SHOULDER LABRAL TEAR

A labral tear in the shoulder is one of several painful shoulder injuries that many athletes experience. This particular injury has to do with a ring of fibrocartilaginous structure that pads the shoulder joint. If that structure becomes damaged, it can cause pain and instability in the shoulder, and can prevent an athlete from reaching their full performance potential.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and its design is complex. There are five joints within, but the Glenohumeral joint is the main ball and socket. Here, the humeral head fits like a ball into its socket, the glenoid cavity of the scapula. This ball and socket joint is aided by something called the glenoid labrum, a rim of fibrocartilaginous tissue attached to the glenoid cavity. The labrum supports and stabilizes this joint. When it’s torn, it can cause the shoulder to dislocate partially or completely.

In the sports medicine world, a shoulder labral tear is most common for throwers and other overhead athletes. This includes baseball players, football players, swimmers, and weightlifters. These sports require repetitive overhead motions that can create microtraumas from overuse. Hyperextension, heavy lifting, and a direct trauma to the shoulder can also damage the glenoid labrum.

Shoulder labral tears usually present with one or more changes to the functionality of the shoulder joint. Pain in the shoulder is the most prominent feature,