How to deal with tears of the pectoralis major

Tears of the pectoralis major muscle are rare in the general population, but more common among serious bodybuilders and strength athletes. The injury usually occurs during the bench press (with supplements) but can also occur during pass blocking in American football or plyometric upper body exercises.

A literature review conducted by British scientists concludes that a pectoralis major tear is accompanied by severe pain, weakness and deformity of the chest and shoulder. An MRI scan is the best way to assess the severity of the injury - in addition to manual tests.

Serious bodybuilders and strength athletes should receive surgical treatment for most pectoralis major tears. Non-surgical treatment is successful in only 27 percent of cases, while excellent results are reported in 88 percent of surgically treated patients.

(Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, published online January 1, 2015)