A Muscle That Bends Your Elbow
Thebrachialisis a muscle located in your arm near the crook of your elbow.
It works closely with yourbicepsbrachiiandbrachioradialismusclesto ensure that your elbow bends appropriately.
Injury to the brachialis muscle may cause pain and limit your ability to use your arm normally.
It also covers possible injuries and recovery to the brachialis muscle.
Anatomy
The brachialis muscle originates from the front of yourhumerus, or upper arm bone.
It arises from the distal part of the bone, below your biceps brachii muscle.
The brachialis and supinator muscles make up the floor of the cubital fossa of your elbow.
Nerve innervation to the brachialis muscle is the musculocutaneous nerve and some parts of theradial nerve.
This corresponds to a spinal level of cervical five and six.
Branches of the brachial artery and recurrent radial artery provide blood supply to the muscle.
It has a large cross-sectional area and can produce more strength than the biceps brachii.
The biceps brachii serves primarily tosupinateyour forearm, turning it into a palm-up position.
Your healthcare provider can easily test the strength of your brachialis muscle.
To do this, sit in a chair with your elbow bent.
If you could withstand the force of someone pushing your arm, then brachialis strength is considered adequate.
However, tennis elbow involves inflammation of the tendons, whereas a strained brachialis involves injury to the muscle.
People suffering fromneck painwith cervicalradiculopathymay experience brachialis weakness, especially if cervical level five or six is involved.
If you suspect you have injured your brachialis muscle, visit your healthcare provider.
They can assess your condition and guide you to the correct treatment.
Initial treatment of your brachialis injury often follows theP.O.L.I.C.E.
This stands for protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation.
Ultrasound
Anultrasound devicemay also be used to heat the brachialis muscle.
A specialized wand introduces ultrasonic waves through the skin and into the muscle during this physical therapy treatment.
This causes the muscle and tendon cells to expand and contract, heating the tissue.
Ultrasound is done before stretching to improve tissue extensibility.
When combined with other treatment methods, deep heat ultrasound may decrease pain.
Massage and TENS
Massage may also be an effective treatment for brachialis injury.
Massage can help decrease pain, improve blood flow, and improve tissue extensibility to the muscle.
It is often performed before stretching.
With less pain, you may be able to engage in your rehab program for your injured brachialis fully.
A muscle tear, which is extremely rare, must be ruled out.
If your brachialis muscle is torn, surgery may be performed to repair it.
Strengthening Exercises
You work your brachialis muscle every time you exercise your bicep muscle.
Hammer Curls
Stand with your legs straight and hip-width apart.
Hold a dumbbell with a comfortable weight in each hand.
Cross-Body Hammer Curl
The cross-body hammer curl is very similar to the standard hammer curl.
Your palms should remain facing inward, and you should not twist your arms.
Zottman Curl
Similar to the hammer and cross-body hammer curl, stand with your legs straight and hip-width apart.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your outer legs.
Then, just like the hammer curl, begin curling your lower arms upwards.
Grip the bar with extended arms and palms facing away from you.
Sit down with your armpits resting on the top of the bar.
The tops of your arms should lie flat on the padding.
Be careful not to hyperextend on the way down.
Before straightening your arms, curl back up, keeping tension on the biceps and brachialis muscles.
It does this when your forearm is in a palm-down, pronated position.
Injury to the muscle may typically cause pain and difficulty using your arm.
Several interventions are available to help heal a brachialis injury.
Additionally, you’re able to perform various exercises to strengthen your brachialis.
2022;19(3):1859.
