Short Biceps?

RobAMerc

Was talking to a lad over lunch there about stuff and I mentioned my Biceps and Triceps seem to finish long before my elbow ( about an inch at least I would say ) - he reckons I have short Biceps which I need to train specifically for.

Anyone here any idea if he's talking out his jaxie ?
Does this mean I am in fact not perfect or have I just trained incorrectly ?

Michael 09

I'm open for correction on this but I think that's tendons rather than muscle...

So yes he's talking out his 4rse

eilo1

Tendons are just the ends of muscles, they are what hold the muscle to the bone in very simple terms.

If your range of movement is reduced in the elbow joint you could try a stretching program to get full rang on it. Ideally your arm should extend until your olecronon sits into the olecronon fossa.

I wouldnt be too worried about it to be honest, but there are some people that would! :pac::pac:

RobAMerc

thanks guys - not worried, no noticeable issues with range of motion, would just like to know if there is a way to train so that my Biceps don't stop half way up my upper arm !

eilo1

Maybe have a look at the exercises your doing and see if you are moving through the whole range in all of them. You would be amazed how many people only work half the muscle.

If you are doing biceps curls make sure you start with the elbow straight and drop slowly back down to a straight arm so the whole muscle is working.

Hanley

eilo1 wrote: »

Maybe have a look at the exercises your doing and see if you are moving through the whole range in all of them. You would be amazed how many people only work half the muscle.

If you are doing biceps curls make sure you start with the elbow straight and drop slowly back down to a straight arm so the whole muscle is working.

That's not going to matter a damn if he has 'longer' tendons than average. Which seems to be the case...


Rob - shorter biceps + longer tendons = higher peak, normal/longer muscles + short tendons (ie insertion closer to elbow) = more fuller looking arms

Either way, it's largely genetic and there's probably not much you can do about it.

eilo1

Hanley wrote: »

That's not going to matter a damn if he has 'longer' tendons than average. Which seems to be the case...


Rob - shorter biceps + longer tendons = higher peak, normal/longer muscles + short tendons (ie insertion closer to elbow) = more fuller looking arms

Either way, it's largely genetic and there's probably not much you can do about it.

great diagnosis Dr. Hanley :rolleyes:

It will matter if he has just been training the biceps in inner range. Which is far more common..................
Plus even if he did have "long tendons" he could still stretch the muscle bulk to try and get that extra extension he is missing. Which would in fact lead to a more equally distributed muscle.

eilo1

Hanley wrote: »

That's not going to matter a damn if he has 'longer' tendons than average. Which seems to be the case...


Rob - shorter biceps + longer tendons = higher peak, normal/longer muscles + short tendons (ie insertion closer to elbow) = more fuller looking arms

Either way, it's largely genetic and there's probably not much you can do about it.

just to be technical they arnt really longer than usual if they just insert closer?!?!

gymsoldier

eilo1 wrote: »

great diagnosis Dr. Hanley :rolleyes:

Quit while youre ahead, although by what youve said so far, youre clearly behind

Hanley

Ok then, lets play.

eilo1 wrote: »

great diagnosis Dr. Hanley :rolleyes:

I much prefer Sir Hanley.

It will matter if he has just been training the biceps in inner range. Which is far more common..................

What’s the ‘inner (bicep) range’?

Plus even if he did have "long tendons" he could still stretch the muscle bulk to try and get that extra extension he is missing. Which would in fact lead to a more equally distributed muscle.

[/quote]

Explain that one to me a bit better. How does one ‘stretch’ muscle bulk? Tendon is basically fascia. Are you suggesting this can be converted to muscle? If so, how significant is this effect going to be? And who said anything about him having extension problems? He said he doesn’t seem to suffer any ROM loss.

eilo1 wrote: »

just to be technical they arnt really longer than usual if they just insert closer?!?!

If you want to be pedantic – If you have a muscle with inserts closer to the elbow joint, that is to say, the tendon length is shorter (than average), you’ll have a more full looking bicep.

Happy?

eilo1

ah yeah sure what would evidence based research and 3 years of physio teach ya.....................................................................

g'em

guys can we please put the smart-arsed replies to one-side and just discuss the topic like grown-ups?

Michael 09

Whoa, that escalated.

Hanley

eilo1 wrote: »

ah yeah sure what would evidence based research and 3 years of physio teach ya.....................................................................

That's what you're being asked.

RobAMerc

Hanley wrote: »

Rob - shorter biceps + longer tendons = higher peak

Hanley wrote: »

normal/longer muscles + short tendons (ie insertion closer to elbow) = more fuller looking arms

Hanley wrote: »

Either way, it's largely genetic and there's probably not much you can do about it.

:mad::mad:

Thanks Hanley - I think you can see my full range of emotions as I read this. But seriously, if I was B I could work harder to make them bigger. As I am A - I can't do much by the looks of it. Damn genetics ! ( Arnie is counting his blessings I am sure )

Michael 09

Hanley, in fairness to eilo, she used pictures.

For that reason I agree with eilo.

Hanley

RobAMerc wrote: »

But seriously, if I was B I could work harder to make them bigger. As I am A - I can't do much by the looks of it. Damn genetics ! ( Arnie is counting his blessings I am sure )

Who said you can’t make your arms bigger?? Course ya can. The dudes with ‘shorter’ biceps tend to look bigger anyway cos it looks like they swell out from their elbow joint more.

Besides, I’m wrong anyway, so no point listening to me.

Michael 09 wrote: »

Hanley, in fairness to eilo, she used pictures.

For that reason I agree with eilo.

I didn’t realize Eilo was a girl, if she was I coulda just posted this and saved myself all that typing… (I REALLY hope this goes down in the tongue in cheek manner intended…)

eilo1

SORRY MY BAD!

I just got really annoyed and wrote out a long response. During which I went back to the OP and reread "I mentioned my Biceps and Triceps seem to finish long before my elbow "

When I first read this I thought he was saying that he his elbow extension was reduced by an inch not his tendinous insertion.
Hence giving the stretching advice and the pic about the elbow joint.
Sorry again!

eilo1

I may be a woman but Im blaming this on dyslexia and maybe diabetic hypoglycemia (clutches at straws)

Hanley

eilo1 wrote: »

SORRY MY BAD!

I just got really annoyed and wrote out a long response. During which I went back to the OP and reread "I mentioned my Biceps and Triceps seem to finish long before my elbow "

When I first read this I thought he was saying that he his elbow extension was reduced by an inch not his tendinous insertion.
Hence giving the stretching advice and the pic about the elbow joint.
Sorry again!

So the picture does apply

Seriously tho... this is weird. It's so unusual to see people admitting they were wrong on boards. They usually just warp the arguement into something that doesn't even make sense anymore.

Michael 09

I presume eilo is a girl? Eileen maybe?

Eilo please confirm this.

Also, based on Hanley's pic, I now don't know who to believe.

Hanley

eilo1 wrote: »

I may be a woman but Im blaming this on dyslexia and maybe diabetic hypoglycemia (clutches at straws)

No arguments from me on being able to stretch muscle/fascia to gain greater ROM anyway

eilo1

Hanley wrote: »

No arguments from me on being able to stretch muscle/fascia to gain greater ROM anyway

I should have kept the reply it was an actual essay on the actin and myosin cross bridge formation!:pac:

And yes Micheal I am of the fairer species and currently stuffing my face with chocolate nom nom nom

Michael 09

Jeez guys get a room.

I can feel the sexual tension from here... Hanley if you like her, just tell her.

RobAMerc

Hanley wrote: »

Who said you can’t make your arms bigger?? Course ya can. The dudes with ‘shorter’ biceps tend to look bigger anyway cos it looks like they swell out from their elbow joint more.

Of course I can, what I meant is there is a fix for type B - work harder - but type A ( although looking bigger to start ) can never have fuller arms. ( clear as mud eh )

itsallaboutheL

Much lulz

discus

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Much lulz

Mulch lulz?