Tricep

The tricep, or triceps brachii, is the three-headed muscle at the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow and plays a stabilizing role during pushing and overhead movements.

What your tricep does and how it gets injured

Your tricep runs along the entire back of your upper arm, from two attachment points at the shoulder down to the point of the elbow (the olecranon) where its tendon inserts. All three heads converge into that single tendon, and their primary job is elbow extension: straightening the arm during pushing movements, throwing, pressing overhead, and lowering weight under control. The tricep is less commonly injured than the bicep, but triceps tendinopathy at the elbow insertion is a recognized cause of posterior elbow pain — particularly in people who perform a lot of overhead pressing or throwing. Tricep strains can occur from sudden forced elbow flexion under load, and the distal tendon can partially or completely tear in high-impact situations, typically producing immediate pain, weakness, and a palpable gap near the elbow. Weakness in the tricep also affects shoulder mechanics: because one head of the tricep crosses the shoulder, its contribution to joint stability during pushing and pressing is often overlooked until something goes wrong.

How Sword Health can help

Whether you're dealing with tricep tendinopathy, a tricep strain, or elbow pain related to this muscle, a physical therapist can assess what's driving it and build a targeted rehabilitation plan. Sword connects you with that expertise from home, so recovery is guided rather than guesswork.