As we age, the tendons that attach the biceps to the arm at the shoulder and at the elbow can become inflamed, sore, and even frayed due to overuse. This condition, biceps tendinitis, can lead to aches and pains that radiate up and down the length of the front upper arm.

Shoulder pain can have many different causes. If you’re experiencing soreness or noticeable weakness at the front of your shoulder, it’s possible you have tendinitis (sometimes spelled “tendonitis”) affecting the long head of the biceps tendon—where the biceps muscle attaches to bone.