The Gillett Health Podcast Do this if you tear your pec
Dec 26, 2025
Andy Kushner, an orthopedic physical therapist with over 20 years at Athletico, shares invaluable insights on pectoral tendon tears. He discusses his three-day rule for assessing injuries, the importance of early evaluation, and how to manage recovery effectively. Andy emphasizes building resilience, safe rehab practices, and when to safely return to activities like bench pressing. He also critiques extreme online exercise advice and highlights the need for tailored rehab strategies, especially in comparison to professional athlete recovery.
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You Can Stay Active Despite A Pec Tear
- A pec tear often requires temporary local rest but you can maintain overall fitness with lower-body, core, and cardio work.
- Disuse of the injured site doesn't mean total cessation of training for overall health.
Baseline Fitness Is Usually Achievable Post-Injury
- Most injured people can rebuild basic capacities like a 15-minute mile or a 100 lb deadlift with proper rehab and mindset work.
- A small subset of injuries truly prevent those baselines; mindset and confidence often limit recovery more than tissue capability.
Integrate Core And Scapular Work
- Integrate scapular, rotator cuff, and core stability work into pec rehab to produce and resist force safely.
- Use core-driven exercises to stimulate the pectoral without isolating it under risky loads.