Shoulder Labral Tear

The labrum is a thick ring of cartilage around the socket part of your shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint). The labrum acts like a cup for the head of the humerus to sit in (like a ball inside a cup). The labrum gives stability to the shoulder joint as it moves.

A common type of labral tear is a SLAP lesion (Superior Labral tear from Anterior to Posterior). When a SLAP tear occurs, the top portion of the labrum is damaged.  These tears are often caused by repetitive overhead use of the shoulder or acute trauma such as a fall.

How our physiotherapists can help

Most often, labral tears are fixed surgically and physiotherapy is needed to rehabilitate the shoulder after the procedure. Treatments involve progression of your range of motion as per your surgeon’s instructions.  In the meantime, pain, swelling and function are addressed. Book an appointment today to find out how we can help you recover after a labral tear!