The procedure for repair involves an incision near the axillary fold in the front of the arm/shoulder. Strong sutures are placed in a locking fashion into the ruptured end of the tendon. Various methods are then used to re-attach the pectoralis
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the human body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles and lies under the breast. Beneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle. The pectoralis major's primary functions are flexion, adduction, and internal rotation of the humerus. The pectoral major may colloquially be referred to as "pec…
Can a torn pectoral muscle be repaired?
In type 1 torn pectoral, the tendon of the pectoralis major tears directly off of the humerus – the easiest to fix. In type 2 torn pectoral the tear occurred where the muscle starts transitioning into a tendon – the muscle-tendon junction- harder to fix, but still possible.
How do you tear your pectoral muscle?
The most common way to tear your pectoral is forceful activities such as weightlifting. It could also occur from certain sports such as football or wrestling. When your pectoral tears you will feel sudden severe pain in your chest.
What is a pectoral tendon tear and how is it treated?
The pectoral tendon attaches the pec major muscle to your humerus or arm bone. The pec major is a very powerful muscle. Pectoral tendons are usually ruptured or torn in weight lifters during bench pressing. Traumatic injuries in sports can also result in a pec tendon tear. Surgery is often needed to repair complete pec tears.
What happens when you tear your pectoralis major?
Ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle are becoming more common due to the increase in power sports weight training. The most common way to tear your pectoral is forceful activities such as weightlifting. It could also occur from certain sports such as football or wrestling. When your pectoral tears you will feel sudden severe pain in your chest.

Can a torn pectoral muscle heal itself?
In most cases, a torn pectoral will not heal on its own. Our team will need to perform surgery to reattach the muscle so that you can begin your road to recovery. The operation will involve sewing the muscle back into place on your upper arm.
How long does a torn pectoral muscle take to heal?
How long does it take to recover from a Torn Pec? The healing and rehab process can take anywhere from 6 months to a year after a surgical pectoralis repair. The first part of the rehab process consists of managing the pain and swelling and initiating a range of motion in the shoulder and arm.
How do you treat a torn pectoral muscle?
Initial treatment includes application of ice and immobilization of the shoulder, arm and chest. Surgery is often required for complete tears of the pectoralis muscle tendon. Surgery is usually not considered for partial tears, tears within the muscle, or in elderly and low-demand patients.
Can a torn pectoral muscle be repaired years later?
Repair of a pectoralis major muscle rupture at the tendinous insertion into the humerus was successfully performed 13 years after the initial injury. Repair was possible only because the ruptured sternal portion of the muscle was scarred to the intact clavicular portion and therefore had not retracted.
How painful is a torn pectoral?
In complete tears of the pectoralis major muscle, you may have instant pain which quickly subsides. However, as the muscle is completely torn, you are unable to produce force and the arm is substantially weakened.
What does a pulled pectoral feel like?
pain, which may be sharp (an acute pull) or dull (a chronic strain) swelling. muscle spasms. difficulty moving the affected area.
Do all pec tears require surgery?
Most pec major tendon ruptures occur in very active people. Without surgery, pectoralis major tears will cause weakness and an obvious deformity.
How do you know if you pulled a pectoral muscle?
Symptoms of strain in the chest muscle include:pain, which may be sharp and intense pull or chronic pain.swelling.muscle contractions.trouble moving the injured area.pain while breathing.bruising.
Do all pec tears require surgery?
Most pec major tendon ruptures occur in very active people. Without surgery, pectoralis major tears will cause weakness and an obvious deformity.
What is a pectoralis tear?
Pectoralis Muscle Rupture is a rare shoulder injury, most commonly seen in weight lifters. This injury is being seen more regularly due to the increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles.
How much does it cost to repair a pectoralis?
Overall, Pectoralis Muscle Rupture Repair Surgery is a safe procedure that offers great patient outcomes. Procedure Cost: $5,895.00.
What tests are needed for pectoralis muscle rupture?
Preparation for Pectoralis Muscle Rupture. A complete history and physical by your surgeon. You may be required to have a chest x-ray and EKG. Routine pre-operative tests include analyses of blood and urine. You should stop taking certain medications (for example, blood thinners such as aspirin)
How to repair a torn muscle tendon?
The torn muscle-tendon is dissected out and pulled back to where it should be. It is repaired using either sutures along, or sutures attached to anchors. The latter can be inserted into bone and used to repair the tendon back to bone. The wounds are closed with sutures that dissolve, and covered with dressings.
Can you get infection after pectoralis surgery?
Weight lifters may find that they are unable to reach the same level of performance. In rare cases, infection can occur after surgery.
What is a pectoral tear?
A pectoral tear is severe tissue damage that occurs when the chest muscles and tendons are subjected to extreme loads or stresses.
What bone is the pectoral tendon drilled into?
This x-ray image shows the two metal anchors drilled into my upper arm bone to secure the pectoral tendon.
How long does it take for a tendon to heal?
The 3 to 6 month period is when you need to be the most careful. While you can resume working out on your own, the tendon isn’t all the way healed yet. This is when about 5% of patients reinjure their pec 1.
How long does it take for physical therapy to start after a sling surgery?
Physical therapy started 2 weeks after surgery. In the first session, the therapist just took my arm out of the sling to test the range of motion. It was painful when he moved my arm and the range of motion was only about 60 degrees.
How long does it take to get back to where you were before an injury?
To get back to where you were before the injury can take a year or more. By 1 year after my injury, I had regained a good amount of size and strength. But you can see below the pec is still smaller and indented.
What is the function of the pectorals?
If you’re not familiar with anatomy, the pectorals are the large muscles of your chest. Their primary function is to pull your upper arm forward and across your body.
How long does it take to recover from a bench press?
After about 6 months of rest, rehab, recovery, you should be cleared to resume a full workout routine including bench press. But start very light and build your strength up gradually.
How to tell if you have a tear in your pectoral muscle?
It could also occur from certain sports such as football or wrestling. When your pectoral tears you will feel sudden severe pain in your chest. You may also have pain in the upper arm, weakness, bruising, and a dimpling, or pocket formation above the armpit. If you feel any of these symptoms please be sure to call our sports medicine doctor in Franklin Lakes, NJ at New York Sports Medicine Institute.
What does it feel like to have a pectoral tear?
When your pectoral tears you will feel sudden severe pain in your chest. You may also have pain in the upper arm, weakness, bruising, and a dimpling, or pocket formation above the armpit. If you feel any of these symptoms please be sure to call our sports medicine doctor in Franklin Lakes, NJ at New York Sports Medicine Institute.
What happens if you don't prepare for lifting heavy weights?
If you are not prepared then you coil drop the weight or do something wrong and injure yourself. One wrong move with a heavy weight can easily cause an injury that could need surgery.
How long does it take for a syringe to heal?
How Long Does the Healing Process Take? The healing process can take from 6 months to a year after surgery. The first part of the healing process after surgery is resting and managing the pain. Then, you should call our sports medicine doctor in Franklin Lakes, NJ to continue that rehab and get you feeling good as new.
How to stop chest pain?
Stop as soon as you notice the pain. Ice- Make sure to ice for about 20 minutes 3 times a day as long as pain persists. Compression- Consider wrapping the affected area but not too tight as to where it will affect your circulation.
Can a Torn Pectoral Muscle Heal Itself?
In most cases it will not heal on its own. You usually will have to get surgery to repair this tear. Our team at New York Sports Medicine Institute will have to assist you in that healing process from surgery. But, if it is a minor case there are some things that you can do to heal it on your own, just like the things listed above.
What type of tear is the pectoralis major tendon?
Type 1: With type 1 tears , the pectoralis major tendon pulls away from the humerus.
What Is the Pectoral Muscle?
The pectoral muscles are made up of four muscles that connect the chest wall with the upper arm bone, or humerus, and shoulder:
How to minimize scar tissue?
When you've experienced a pectoral muscle tear, the best way to minimize scar tissue formation and maximize function is by focusing on a progressive program of stretching and strengthening.
Which muscle is responsible for stabilizing the collarbone during arm movement?
The smallest of the pectoral muscles is the subclavius, which attaches to the clavicle and first rib. This muscle is responsible for stabilizing the collarbone during arm movement and for lowering the clavicle and elevating the first rib during respiration. Of these four muscles, the one most likely to become injured is the pectoralis major muscle.
How to rehab a muscle?
Beginning with just your own body weight, perform 2 to 3 sets for 15 to 20 repetitions. Progress the next day—or as quickly as your pain level permits—to using light weights for the same amount of sets and repetitions. (While resistance bands are perfect for rehabbing a muscle injury, weight lifters who originally injured themselves bench pressing may choose to treat their injury using the same exercise—and similar guidelines.) Gradually increase weights as tolerated over the next few days, using your pain level and ability to perform the exercise with proper form as a guide.
What does it feel like to tear a muscle?
And the result is sudden pain and a tearing sensation that many describe as feeling like the muscle has unzipped itself. In addition, depending on the severity of the tear, there may also be loss of strength, swelling, dark bruising throughout the affected chest and armpit area, and a bunching up under the skin where the muscle has retracted.
What type of tear is the muscle pulling away from the sternum?
Type 4: On the opposite end of the spectrum is the type 4 tear, in which the muscle pulls away from the sternum.
How to prevent muscle tears?
In most cases, muscles tears are preventable by observing proper warm-up techniques and never forcing a cold muscle to perform full tilt. Using the proper form in any activity is also critical to maintaining healthy muscles. Know your body’s limits. When it comes to pushing your body to the extreme, there’s no such thing as “no pain no gain.” In fact, pain often is the first sign that a muscle has been injured. Get to know your body and understand its signals. This is the best way to not only avoid injury, but to ensure continued peak performance.
How long does it take for a muscle tear to heal?
Moderate tears may require physical therapy. A severe tear that requires surgical repair can take months or longer to heal.
What is a muscle tear?
Torn muscles can occur any time your muscle becomes strained or overstretched. This can happen as a result of exhaustion and fatigue, improper use, or overuse. While any muscle can be affected, torn muscles most often occur in the lower back, neck, shoulder and hamstring.
What percentage of muscle fibers are torn?
Torn muscles are categorized by the severity of the injury: mild which is a simple strain affecting 5% of a muscle’s fibers; moderate which is up to 25%-30% and accompanied by swelling, decreased range of motion and pain; and severe which is an actual tear in a muscle that is accompanied by extensive swelling.
How do you know if you have a torn muscle?
Symptoms of Torn Muscles. When you tear a muscle, even when it is mild, you will know immediately. Expect pain and soreness, as well as spasms and swelling in the affected area. Depending on the severity of the strain, you may find it difficult to move the area, if at all.
What is the treatment for a minor strain?
– that’s Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation – treatment for injuries. Your orthopedist may also recommend NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – to help reduce swelling.
What is the most common injury that happens when you are trying to get in shape?
Aches, sprains and soreness are common when one is trying to get in shape. However, muscle tears (also referred to as strains) can be more problematic.
How to heal a torn pectoral muscle?
Once the pain and swelling of your injury have been significantly reduced, begin exercises for torn pectoral muscles under the guidance your physical therapist.
How to strengthen pectoral muscles after shoulder surgery?
Wrist weights, light dumbbells and low tensioned exercise bands are generally used for shoulder flexion exercises to slowly improve the strength of your pectoral muscles after a tear. Perform three sets of 15 repetitions of strengthening exercises. Slowly increase the resistance depending on your rate of progress.
What exercises are good for pectoral strengthening?
Chest presses and chest flies are the best exercises to begin a pectoral strengthening rehab program.
How to get back from a PEC tear?
There are several exercises you can do to help get back from a pec tear. A chest muscle tear or pec tear can potentially limit not only your workouts and sporting activities, but also your capacity to perform everyday activities. The good news is, exercises can help.
How to stretch a chest muscle?
To perform a passive chest muscle strain stretch, simply lie flat on your back; then raise the arm with the injured muscle above your head so it is in a straight line with your body. For an active stretch, stand near the hinge of a doorway. Grasp the hinge using the arm of your injured muscle.
How to warm up for PEC?
Warmup for Pec Rehab Exercises. Warm up before your rehab exercises. Begin each session with a hot pack placed over your injury for 10 minutes. Heat increases blood circulation and the temperature of the muscles, tendons and ligaments so they are more elastic and plastic. This means you can stretch and strengthen your tissues with less pain, ...
Does bench press cause pectoralis injuries?
According to a study published in the January-February 2017 issue of the journal RadioGraphics, the incidence of pectoralis major injuries has increased significantly over the past 20 years as the bench press exercise has gotten more popular.
