Brachialis Muscle Pain: Cause, symptoms, Treatment, Exercise

When you feel pain in the arm & limit the movement or use of the arm, it is indicated to be brachialis muscle pain. This pain occurs due to forceful or repetitive strain on the brachialis muscle. this pain is reduced by the RICE method & physiotherapy treatment.

What is brachialis muscle pain?

• The brachialis muscle is located in the arm near the crook of the elbow joint.
• This muscle flexes & bends the elbow joint when the hand & forearm are in a pronated position with the palm facing down.
• This muscle works closely with the biceps brachii & brachioradialis muscles which ensures that the elbow joint bends properly.
• When the Injury occurs in the brachialis muscle it produces pain & limits the movement of the arm normally.
• The patient feels weakness in the arm & also presents swellings in the muscle due to injury.
• The home treatment is used for RICE therapy to reduce pain & also used for physiotherapy treatment for reducing swellings & spasms.

What is the Anatomy of the brachialis muscle?

• This brachialis muscle originates from the front of the humerus bone or upper arm bone.
• This brachialis muscle is inserted into the coronoid process & tuberosity of the ulna bone.
• This brachialis muscle is along with the supinator muscle, which makes up the floor of the cubital fossa of the elbow joint.
• The brachialis muscle is inverted by the musculocutaneous nerve & some parts of the radial nerve.
• The function of the brachialis muscle is to flex the elbow joint mostly when the forearm is in the pronated means palm down position.

What is the cause of the brachialis pain?

• This brachialis muscle is injured by a forceful/repetitive strain is placed on the muscle.
• Mostly this force is applied when the elbow joint is in a pronated position.
• Climbers/throwing athletes & people who have participated in the racquet sports which is mostly suffering from a brachialis injury due to overuse & repetitive strain.
• This muscle is mostly injured by overuse of this muscle.

What are Symptoms of the brachialis muscle pain?

• The patient feels the Pain in the front of the elbow joint.
• Swelling is also present in the front of the elbow joint.
• The patient feels Difficulty extending the elbow joint because it places stress on the injured brachialis muscle.
• The patient feels the Weakness in the muscle & also feels the movement of bending the elbow joint.
• In the patient, trigger points are also present in the muscle pain.
• The patient is also experiencing brachialis muscle weakness when the patient is suffering from neck pain with cervical radiculopathy.

What is the diagnosis of brachialis pain?

• When the patient feels any symptoms & causes of pain in this muscle as soon as visit & contact the healthcare provider.
• So that the healthcare provider can assess the condition & guide the correct treatment for the patient.

• In the diagnosis of a brachialis injury healthcare providers follow the assessment of the brachialis muscle

• In the first healthcare provider checks the history of the injury & tries to know about the cause of the pain.
• In the observation observe the swelling & skin redness in the patient.
• In the palpation palpate the swelling & check the temperature.
• In the examination examine the ROM & Strength of the elbow joint.

• A healthcare provider is also advised to X-ray which helps to assess the possible fracture & also magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which assesses the soft tissues in the anterior elbow joint.

What is the treatment of brachialis pain?

RICE principle:

• In the starting phase of the muscle pain use to RICE principle to reduce the muscle pain.

• R – rest = When the pain occurs someday rest is advised to the patient. During the rest, the patient is also used to splint to release the pain.
• I – ice = Ice is applied on the area of pain for 20 minutes, the patient is also used to ice pack & frozen peas which are used to reduce the swelling.
• C – compression = In the compression applied to the bandage on the muscle pain area for reducing the pain, swelling & spasms.
• E – elevation = Patient is elevated to the foot with the help of the pillow to reduce the swellings.

Massage:

• Massage is also an effective treatment for brachialis muscle injury.
• So Massage helps them decrease the pain / improve the blood flow & improve to tissue extensibility of the muscle.
• This massage is applied with the help of the oil to release the swellings.
• This massage is applied in a circular motion.

Trigger Point Release:

• Trigger point therapy involves the application of firm pressure to a hyperirritable spot & taut band, which is known as a trigger point.
• This pressure is work to release the tension in the muscle, by decreasing the blood flow to the area decreasing the pressure felt.
• When the pressure is removed, blood flows back to the area & flushes to any toxins that are released by the muscle.
• These points are also referred as to pain in other parts of the body, lasting for a few seconds.

Dry Needling:

• Dry needling is a technique that is used to reduce muscle restriction by releasing the trigger points with acupuncture needles.
• A Soft tissue Occupational Therapist is used to individually pack the sterilized acupuncture needles which directly needle the trigger point & produce a local response within the muscle, which is quickly dissipating to allow the muscle to relax.

Myofascial Release:

• Myofascial release is the too manipulative treatment that attempts to release the tension in the fascia due to trauma, posture/inflammation.
• Connective tissues are called fascia which surrounds the muscles, bones, nerves & organs of the body.
• Points of the restriction in the fascia which places a great deal of pressure on nerves & muscles causing chronic pain.
• A soft tissue occupational therapist is employed to long stretching strokes to balance this tissue & muscle mechanics which is improved to joint ROM to relieve pain.

Heat:

• Applying heat to the painful brachialis muscles through the use of the heat pack helps to alleviate the pain.
• Heat is an inexpensive, effective form the pain relief that works by increasing the blood flow to the area, relaxing the muscles & increasing ROM & flexibility.

What is physiotherapy treatment for brachialis pain?

• The physiotherapy treatment includes electrotherapy, stretching & exercise to reduce the pain & swelling of the muscle.

Electrotherapy for the brachialis muscle pain :

• The electrotherapy treatment includes SWD, TENS, IFT, and the US which is used to reduce pain & swelling.
• Ultrasound therapy is used on the tender points & trigger points to reduce the swelling.
• Short-wave diathermy is applied to an area of pain to reduce the pain.
• TENS & IFT machines are used in the area of pain to release the pain & swelling.

Stretching for the brachialis muscle pain:

• Stretching helps to release the tightness of the muscle pain.

1. Stretching with a Block
2. Stretching on the Floor
3. Stretching with the Table
4. Stretching with the Wall
5. Standing Stretch
6. Seated Stretch

Stretching with a Block:

• The brachialis muscle pain is released by doing a simple stretch at the table with a block.
• The patient is to Sit at the table & place a solid object like a yoga block & thick book in front of you.
• Rest the elbow joint over the object & stretch the forearm out straight ahead.
• For the stretch, the patient is done with the palm facing upward, & again with the palm facing down.
• This stretching position is to hold up to 30 seconds & repeat 3 times in 1 session.

Stretching on the Floor:

• The brachialis muscle is also stretched by lying down on the back on the floor & in bed.
• Keep the legs straight in front of the body & anchor the elbow firmly onto the floor.
• Must be Keep the elbow joint attached to the floor.
• Use the other hand to push the hand to the side.
• Another floor stretch patient can do involves lying on the back & using the opposite hand to form a circle around the wrist & pull the arm up over the head.
• This stretching position is to hold up to 30 seconds & repeat 3 times in 1 session.

Stretching with the Table:

• The easy stretch at the table includes resting the elbows on the table & using the opposite hand to turn the palm facing upward.
• Turn the palm up as far as possible which is going without hurting, then turn the palm facing downward in the same fashion. must be Keep the elbow joint firmly attached to the table.
• The patient is also using the table for the stretch by sitting in the chair & putting the forearm parallel to the edge of the table.
• With the feet planted on the ground, lean forward to stretch.
• This stretching position is to hold up to 30 seconds & repeat 3 times in 1 session

Stretching with the Wall:

• The brachialis muscle is also stretched into a standing position at the arm distance from the wall & extending the arm toward the wall.
• The hand must be kept lower than the shoulder, with the arm slightly in front of the body.
• Place the hand & the fingers, against the wall & carefully turn the head away from the wall.

Standing Stretch:

• The patient stands near to doorway with the shoulder joint parallel to the doorway’s opening.
• The patient Reached straight to the side & slightly back to grasp the doorjamb at shoulder level with the right hand. Back further away from the doorjamb, if necessary must fully straighten the right arm.
• Turn the body slowly toward the left till feel a stretch in the upper right arm.
• Hold this stretch for 30 seconds breathing normally, then repeat the other side.
• Do this stretch 3 to 5 times on each side.

Seated Stretch:

• The patient is Sitting down on the floor.
• Straighten both arms & plant the hands on the floor behind the body slightly wider than the hip joint.
• Turn the hands so that fingers are pointed straight back.
• Scoot the hip joint slowly forward, keeping the weight evenly distributed, till you feel mild tension in the brachialis muscle
• Hold this stretching position for hold the15 to 30 seconds, breathing normally, then scoot the hips back toward the hands to release the stretch.
• Repeat this stretching 3 to 5 times.

What is an exercise for brachialis muscle pain:

1. Hammer Curl
2. Cross Arm Landmine Curl

Hammer Curl :

• The patient is Holding one dumbbell in each hand, relaxing the knee joint & standing with the feet shoulder-width apart. Beginning with the arms at the sides & palms facing inwards, flex the elbow & raise the dumbbell to the shoulder.
• Lower to the original position & repeat with the alternate arm.
• For optimal results, perform 2-3 sets of the 15 repetitions 3 times per week.
• In the modified version of the hammer, curl is used to incline the bench to provide a larger ROM for the brachialis.
• The patient is Seated on an incline bench & leaning back with the headrest, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
• Beginning with the arms at to sides & palms facing inwards, flex the elbow & raise the dumbbells to the shoulder. then Lower to the original position & repeat this exercise.
• Perform this exercise in 2-3 sets of 15-20 repetitions 3 times per week.

Cross Arm Landmine Curl:

• The patient is Secure the barbell in a landmine attachment, a corner / however stabilize the end of one side of the bar on the ground in front of the body.
• The patient is in a standing position perpendicular to the barbell with the feet in a comfortable stance.
• Grasp the barbell with the left hand & palm facing upwards.
• Contract the left brachialis muscle which curls the barbell upwards & across the body.
• Squeeze the brachialis muscle hard at the top of the repetition & slowly return to the starting position.
• Repeat this exercise in 2-3 sets of the 15-20 repetitions 3 times per week.