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Atlas · Upper Arm

Triceps Brachii

Triceps straightens the elbow during pushing, throwing and transfers. Separate posterior arm muscle pain from pain at the tendon above the olecranon, particularly after a fall or sudden heavy push.

Triceps Brachii
Body region
Upper Arm
Trigger points
6
documented in this muscle
Common symptoms
3
patterns cataloged
Contributors
3
Factors to assess

Muscle overview

Symptoms and first steps

Practical first steps

  • Temporarily reduce the provoking press, dip or throwing load.
  • Use comfortable elbow movement and lighter two-handed tasks.
  • After a sudden injury with weakness or bruising, protect the arm until assessed.

When to seek assessment

  • A pop with bruising, a tendon gap or loss of pushing strength warrants prompt assessment.
  • A hot swollen elbow, fever, spreading numbness or new wrist/finger weakness needs medical review.

Preserved active elbow extension can coexist with a partial tendon tear. A sudden loss of pushing strength, bruising or a palpable gap changes the assessment.

Examination, palpation and treatment evidence

Illustrated overview

Triceps Brachii

Blue highlights the muscle. Crosses mark representative trigger-point sites; shaded areas show possible referred pain. These examples do not correspond one-to-one with the numbered points below. Patterns vary and cannot diagnose the cause of pain.

Illustrated overview

Triceps Brachii · Trigger-point examples 1

Representative source regions. The illustrated markers and pain pattern are not individual assignments to the numbered trigger points.

Open full-size image

Trigger points

1. TrP1

Location. Back of upper arm

Trigger point map
Triceps Brachii — Triceps Brachii · Trigger-point examples 1Open full-size image

Regional muscle reference; this is not an individual map of the selected numbered trigger point.

Referred pain map
Triceps Brachii — Referred pain mapOpen full-size image

Regional muscle reference; this is not an individual map of the selected numbered trigger point.

Pain referral. Back of arm, elbow, shoulder

Pain Pattern

  • Back of arm
  • Elbow
  • Shoulder
  • Upper back
  • Fourth and fifth fingers

What This Pain Feels Like

Compare a door push or supported transfer at the same elbow angle. Record the site separately from the distal tendon and elbow tip.

What Patients Report

  • Pain when pushing
  • Pain at back of elbow
  • Shoulder pain during dips
  • Weakness in triceps

What Makes It Worse

  • Push-ups
  • Bench press
  • Overhead activities
  • Dips
  • Elbow extension against resistance
Browse related exercises (10)

Symptoms patients report

Pain during pushing Compare a door push or supported transfer at the same elbow angle.

Tender posterior upper arm Record the site separately from the distal tendon and elbow tip.

Reduced extension force Distinguish pain-limited effort from persistent weakness after injury.

Contributors to assess

Increased pressing or throwing Review recent changes in load, repetitions and recovery.

Repeated loaded transfers Chair height, hand support and assistance alter elbow demand.

A sudden eccentric load A fall or heavy push may injure the distal tendon.

For clinicians and supervised training

Clinical reference

Posterior arm and elbow symptoms can arise from muscle loading, the distal tendon, the olecranon bursa or cervical/radial-nerve disease.

Anatomy and palpation

Anatomical relationships

The long head begins on the scapula below the glenoid; the lateral and medial heads arise from the posterior humerus. All contribute to elbow extension through insertion at the olecranon. The long head also crosses the shoulder.[1][3][4]

  • Posterior upper-arm muscle mass between shoulder and elbow.
  • Distal triceps tendon immediately proximal to the olecranon.
  • Long-head region along the medial posterior upper arm.

Nearby structures. The radial nerve and profunda brachii vessels cross the posterior humerus. The ulnar nerve lies behind the medial epicondyle, and the olecranon bursa overlies the elbow tip.

Palpation

Patient position. Seated or side lying, with the shoulder supported and elbow comfortably bent.

Find the landmarks

  • Identify the olecranon and distal tendon first.
  • Orient to the posterior muscle mass with a light elbow-extension effort.

Examination sequence

  1. Inspect for swelling, bruising or a visible contour change.
  2. Relax the arm and compare light contact over the muscle belly and distal tendon separately.
  3. Record familiar pain and compare it with a gentle supported extension task.

Document the findings

  • Muscle-belly tenderness, insertional pain and a superficial swollen bursa are distinct findings.
  • A suspected gap or injury-related weakness calls for tendon assessment.

Limits and precautions

  • Avoid deep pressure over the posterior humerus or medial-elbow nerve groove.
  • Defer resisted testing of a suspected acute rupture until assessed.
[1][3][4]

Examination and tests

3

Supported elbow-extension comparison[1][3]

Locate pain and assess extension force in a controlled position.

Position
Upper arm supported beside the trunk, elbow comfortably flexed.
Technique
First ask for active straightening. If injury screening permits, apply light resistance to the distal forearm while preventing shoulder movement. Record angle, pain site and side-to-side force.
Positive finding
Familiar posterior arm or insertional pain, extension lag or reproducible weakness.
Interpretation
Localizes the loading problem and sets a baseline for pushing tasks.
Limitations
Pain alters effort. Active extension does not exclude a partial tendon tear.

Distal tendon continuity and injury screen[3][2]

Identify a presentation requiring tendon imaging rather than routine muscle treatment.

Position
Arm supported and relaxed with the elbow partly bent.
Technique
Review the injury mechanism; inspect bruising and swelling and gently assess the tendon just above the olecranon. Compare active extension with the other side without repeated forceful challenges.
Positive finding
A sudden injury with tendon-region tenderness, a palpable defect, bruising or extension weakness.
Interpretation
Arrange timely musculoskeletal assessment; ultrasound or MRI may clarify tendon continuity and injury extent.
Limitations
Bedside inspection and palpation cannot reliably grade a partial tear.

Extension weakness with neurological comparison[5][4]

Check whether weakness extends beyond the painful triceps region.

Position
Both arms supported; neck in a comfortable position.
Technique
Compare elbow, wrist and finger extension, hand sensation and upper-limb reflexes as part of a clinician neurological examination. Record whether weakness persists when pain is minimized.
Positive finding
Weakness across several muscles, sensory change or asymmetric reflexes.
Interpretation
Select a cervical-root or radial-nerve assessment according to the full distribution.
Limitations
No single muscle or reflex localizes every lesion; pain and prior injury affect the comparison.

Distinguishing other causes

Distal triceps tendinopathy or tear[3][2]

Findings that matter. Pain concentrated above the olecranon with loading; acute bruising, a gap or force loss raises concern for tearing.

Next step. Assess continuity and functional loss; image a suspected tear and agree protected management.

Olecranon bursal or elbow-joint disorder[3]

Findings that matter. Superficial swelling over the elbow tip, warmth, locking or restricted passive movement.

Next step. Examine the bursa and joint; assess infection when redness, warmth or systemic symptoms are present.

Cervical radiculopathy or radial neuropathy[5][4]

Findings that matter. Posterior arm pain with weakness elsewhere, sensory change or altered reflexes.

Next step. Complete a neurological examination and investigate persistent or progressive deficits.

Treatment selection and progression

Self-care and activity

Adjust pressing and transfer demand[1][3]

Consider when. Assessed loading pain with preserved tendon continuity and stable strength.

Temporarily reduce dips, heavy presses and forceful pushing. For transfers, use a higher chair or additional support and keep comfortable movement between demanding tasks.

Dose and review
Change the most provocative task first and review symptoms across several ordinary activity periods.
Progression
Restore repetitions, then resistance while tracking pushing tolerance later that day and the next morning.
Stop or reassess
A new pop, bruising or abrupt strength loss requires reassessment.
Evidence and limits
A task-based adaptation of triceps loading; no fixed recovery schedule is established for isolated muscle tenderness.

Exercise and rehabilitation

Supported extension loading[1][3]

Consider when. Nontraumatic muscle-loading pain or a tendon presentation cleared for resistance exercise.

With the upper arm supported, begin with a comfortable light extension hold. Progress to a short-arc band press while keeping the shoulder still, then practise the relevant push task.

Dose and review
Clinical starting example: several brief low-effort holds or one light set, adjusted to irritability; record the actual resistance and repetitions.
Progression
Increase movement range and repetitions before resistance, using the following-day response and extension force.
Stop or reassess
Reduce a sustained flare; stop for new extension lag or a sudden change in tendon pain.
Evidence and limits
An anatomy-based loading example. Injury-specific restrictions take precedence after a diagnosed partial tear.

Clinician-delivered care

Protected nonoperative care for a selected partial tear[2][3]

Consider when. An imaging-assessed partial distal triceps injury selected for conservative care by the treating specialist.

Agree protection or bracing, permitted elbow movement and staged rehabilitation according to tear extent and extension function. Review strength before advancing pressing loads.

Dose and review
The specialist sets the protection period and review schedule from the injury; the available athlete series does not define a universal rehabilitation course.
Progression
Advance from permitted movement to resistance and task-specific pushing after reassessment of pain, continuity and force.
Stop or reassess
Increasing weakness, a new gap or failure to recover useful extension prompts specialist reassessment.
Evidence and limits
In a small retrospective professional-football series, six of ten partial tears healed without surgery; four later required repair. Results may differ in other populations and injury patterns.

Reassessment and follow-up

  • Repeat extension force at the same shoulder and elbow position.
  • Track one press or transfer task and the following-day response.
  • After tendon injury, reassess continuity, bruising and strength before increasing load.

Evidence and sources

  1. University of Washington Muscle Atlas: Triceps Brachii

    2026 · University anatomy reference

    Accessed September 2026. Supports attachments, action and innervation. The examination and loading examples are clinical applications of this anatomy, not validated isolated-muscle treatment protocols.

  2. Mair et al. Triceps tendon ruptures in professional football players

    2004 · Retrospective case series

    21 tendon injuries in 19 professional football players. Six of ten partial tears healed without surgery; four subsequently required repair. A selected athlete series supports discussing conservative care for some partial tears, not a universal return date or a treatment for muscle tenderness.

  3. Tom et al. Diagnosis and treatment of triceps tendon injuries: a review of the literature

    2014 · Clinical review

    Posterior elbow pain, extension weakness, tendon continuity and imaging after injury; selected partial injuries may receive protected nonoperative rehabilitation. Evidence is limited and injury severity determines management.

  4. Shamrock and Das. Radial Tunnel Syndrome

    2023 · Clinical reference

    Proximal radial-forearm pain and its distinction from lateral elbow tendinopathy and motor posterior interosseous neuropathy. Provocative pain alone has limited diagnostic specificity.

  5. Merck Manual Professional: Overview of Neck and Back Pain — neurological examination

    2026 · Clinical examination reference

    Accessed September 2026. Supports comparing strength, sensation and reflexes when an arm-pain presentation may involve the cervical roots or cord.

Associated Trigger Points