COMPLETE PEC RUPTURE/TEAR

[BulgingKingFlair]

Hey all,

Was training for the Canadian Nationals (Bench Only). Unassisted, so no bench shirts or most elbow sleeves.

Two Saturdays ago, i was training bench with my strength coach. I was working up to my max, and while using a weight i had done MANY times before - there was a quick ripping sensation on my right side and a very audible "pop". My strength went to zero on the right side immediately and the weight crashed down on that side of me.

All the "hardcore" lifters knew what happened and came to rescue my coach and I. They packed me with ice and held everything together with lifting wraps.

I see an orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow with my MRI, but i wanna go in with reasonable expectations and timeline for recovery.

Does anybody have any experience, knowledge or stories that might help?
Im gonna try and post a pic....

Thanks

 

[Pomacanthidae]

We see all sorts of post op/tears/injuries at my work. I work in rehab services (ot,pt,st). A pec tear usually takes about 6 months after surgery for recovery time. Most likely you'll have physical therapy as well. Possibly occupational. It's going to be a long rough road but it's not a career ended.

 

[BulgingKingFlair]

So post op, it will be 6 months until i regain all the strength and range of motion with good therapy? Or six months until i can start lifting heavy again? I pitch in baseball too......

 

[Notits]

So post op, it will be 6 months until i regain all the strength and range of motion with good therapy? Or six months until i can start lifting heavy again? I pitch in baseball too......

We got a hardcore animal on our hands...
"I have completely torn my pec, how soon before i can go heavy?"
Im in awe - much respect - not messing with you.
Growth Hormone.
Best of luck, keep us posted.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[Pomacanthidae]

So post op, it will be 6 months until i regain all the strength and range of motion with good therapy? Or six months until i can start lifting heavy again? I pitch in baseball too......

Obviously the goal would be to regain 100% function/strength etc. I don't know the nature or exact specifics of your injury so I can't speculate as to what the ultimate outcome will be. It will depend on the status of the muscle itself, the tendon, if it's completely seperated from bone etc. As a standard you probably won't start physical therapy for a month or so after post op. Then that will last a while before you can even begin training.

 

[Pomacanthidae]

The key will be working closely with your surgeon and finding a therapist who specializes in sports/shoulder injuries. You may take longer/shorter as every injury is different.

 

[penche]

Hey all,

Was training for the Canadian Nationals (Bench Only). Unassisted, so no bench shirts or most elbow sleeves.

Two Saturdays ago, i was training bench with my strength coach. I was working up to my max, and while using a weight i had done MANY times before - there was a quick ripping sensation on my right side and a very audible "pop". My strength went to zero on the right side immediately and the weight crashed down on that side of me.

All the "hardcore" lifters knew what happened and came to rescue my coach and I. They packed me with ice and held everything together with lifting wraps.

I see an orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow with my MRI, but i wanna go in with reasonable expectations and timeline for recovery.

Does anybody have any experience, knowledge or stories that might help?
Im gonna try and post a pic....

Thanks

This is me about 4 yrs ago. Ripped the small muscle off the tendon and now I have a dent. Pretty same senerio like you. Never thought it would happen to me, never! I always controlled the weight slow and touched my chest without any bounce at all. I saw one of the best orthos in town, said he couldn't attach it, cuz it be like putting to pieces of hamburger meat together. It would retear he said, honesty I should've gone to a plastic surgeon that specializes in these injuries.

If you're denied surgery find a plastic surgeon who knows their shit in sports medicine or bodybuilding. I gained 95% of all my strength back, can still push 125lbs Dumbbells for 4~5 reps, but before the pec tear was able to hit the 135lbs on each hand. It was a very long process to get back in the gym. Go EASY!

Find a surgeon that will help
It's gonna cost you money but at least you won't have a dent in your chest like me. I regret not researching more when it happened. I doubt I had the money to fix it but hell I could've pulled a loan. Good luck!

 

[lucabratzi]

How is this prevented? Stretching?

 

[Notits]

How is this prevented? Stretching?

I was going to ask something similar luca.
What did you do or do different that may have led to this?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[penche]

How is this prevented? Stretching?

I asked the Ortho the same thing because I stretched, warmed up, built up to the weight, everything controlled and slow. I was really pist and disgusted when this had happen to me. Actually this was oct 9, 2010 when it occurred. So 6 yrs ago. Anyhow, the Ortho told me, which is a one of the better sports medicine surgeons in town, sometimes the muscle is overly stretched and under all that pressure can sometimes give way(tear). He also said majority of these injuries come from under the flat bench with the straight barbell. He said the most common tear is the "partial tear" which most Ortho's will not bother to repair. I did extensive research back in the day. The surgeon who will fix it is a plastic surgeon that has experience with this type of injury. The partial tear is a bitch. Cuz you basically have to sew 2 pieces of muscles fibers together and hope they heal correctly.

Further, the ortho after looking at the MRI said, we could easily do surgery if the tendon detached from the bone. Well duh!

Here is a good article, mine was a type 2.

Edit: i did the research but never called more docs or plastic surgeons. I should've dropped the coin on it. FML.

http://www.pectear.com/pectears/pectear.htm (Pec tear - Pectoralis major rupture - pectear)

 

[Xlgx]

It's been said for years already. Heard it first from DC himself. When doing flat bb bench. It's not a matter of if but when. Happened to me too...

 

[lucabratzi]

Damn now I'm scared of the barbell.

 

[Xlgx]

Damn now I'm scared of the barbell.

Not as much for incline or decline bb.

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Damn now I'm scared of the barbell.

Think about how the pectoral becomes overstretched...
A wide grip on the bar. Bring them hands in. Willing to bed risk of tear goes way down

 

[Notits]

Think about how the pectoral becomes overstretched...
A wide grip on the bar. Bring them hands in. Willing to bed risk of tear goes way down

The close your hands are together the greater the stretch at the bottom.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

The close your hands are together the greater the stretch at the bottom.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Since I switched to a closer grip now have a bigger bench total. Incline and flat than I did when I was a wide gripper. Also less pectoral strain and shoulder pain.
I'm willing to bet the pec will tear on the outside of the surface where the tendon attaches. Stands to reason taking your hands in will alleviate pressure and risk

 

[Notits]

Since I switched to a closer grip now have a bigger bench total. Incline and flat than I did when I was a wide gripper. Also less pectoral strain and shoulder pain.
I'm willing to bet the pec will tear on the outside of the surface where the tendon attaches. Stands to reason taking your hands in will alleviate pressure and risk

Im not saying you don't feel more strain (not sure why) but the closer your hands come to shoulder width the greater the stretch (strain) at the bottom.
With a wider grip your just hanging out in the middle range of motion.
See what i mean?

 

[BulgingKingFlair]

I was going to ask something similar luca.
What did you do or do different that may have led to this?

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Im my case, i had injured my left pec about a month earlier - very minor, no bruising. My doc said that likely the left pec injury hadnt healed completely and my right pec was overloaded trying to compensate for the injury on the other side. He also noticed pneumonia in the initial xray, which was news to me since i didnt even have a cough.

So it was basically an overall loss of peak strength from the pneumonia and compensation for an unhealed injury on the other side. Perfect storm for disaster.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Very helpful.

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

Im not saying you don't feel more strain (not sure why) but the closer your hands come to shoulder width the greater the stretch (strain) at the bottom.
With a wider grip your just hanging out in the middle range of motion.
See what i mean?

I see what your saying. The range of motion increases with a narrow grip.
With a wide grip your tendon is at greater risk of rupture. This is the strain I had

 

[Notits]

I see what your saying. The range of motion increases with a narrow grip.
With a wide grip your tendon is at greater risk of rupture. This is the strain I had

How is it at a greater risk of rupture? I'm not seeing it. The load is the same between the two points at which the pec connect. As far as i can tell the only thing changes is that you stay in the middle of rom and load is on the ancillary muscles more as well.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk