The labrum cartilage in your shoulder lines the joint’s socket, providing stability and cushioning. If you tear your shoulder labrum, the highly skilled staff at Austin Sports Medicine, serving the community in and around Central and South Austin, and Bee Cave, Cedar Park, and Pflugerville, Texas, can help. They have physical therapists, physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, and occupational therapists to heal the labrum and help you regain the use of your arm. Call your nearest Austin Sports Medicine office or use the online booking feature to schedule a shoulder labrum tear evaluation.
A labrum tear in the shoulder is an injury to the ring of cartilage (the labrum) surrounding your shoulder joint’s socket.
The labrum helps keep the ball of your upper arm bone (humerus) securely in place and provides cushioning. When it’s torn, it can lead to pain, weakness, and instability in the shoulder.
Superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) and Bankart are the two most common labrum tears.
Labrum tears can happen suddenly from a sports collision, an injury like a fall, or lifting something heavy. They can also develop slowly from overuse.
Athletes who perform a lot of overhead movements, such as baseball players, swimmers, or weightlifters, are especially at risk. Bankart tears typically occur with shoulder dislocations, alongside rotator cuff injuries.
Common signs of a shoulder labrum tear include:
Diagnosis involves a medical history, symptom review, and physical exam. Austin Sports Medicine also has onsite imaging to quickly and accurately diagnose shoulder labrum tears so they can recommend the best treatment.
The Austin Sports Medicine team typically begins with nonsurgical treatments, especially for minor labrum tears.
Physical therapy strengthens shoulder muscles, improves flexibility, and helps stabilize the joint. Steroid injections reduce inflammation and relieve pain, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may help support healing.
Shoulder arthroscopy may be necessary if symptoms continue or the tear is severe. This minimally invasive surgery uses a camera on a flexible tube that your surgeon inserts into small incisions to access the shoulder joint.
During surgery, the team can repair or remove the torn part of the labrum, tighten loose tissue or ligaments, and address any other damage in the joint.
Recovery depends on the type of tear and treatment, but physical therapy is key after both nonsurgical and surgical treatment. With proper care, most people regain strength, stability, and full function in the shoulder and return to normal activities within 3-6 months.
Call Austin Sports Medicine today or book an appointment online for expert diagnosis and treatment of shoulder labrum tears.