Your shoulder may not receive much thought until it begins to cause you discomfort, however a labrum tear could potentially impede normal movement, making certain activities painful or impossible altogether.
Your doctor will begin diagnosing a shoulder labrum tear by performing a physical exam, asking about your type of discomfort and its start date, before moving your arm and shoulder in different positions to test its range of motion, strength, and stability.
Shoulder Labrum Tear Symptoms
- Pain during daily or overhead activities.
- Grinding, popping, or “sticking” sensation in the shoulder socket.
- Nighttime pain.
- Limited shoulder motion.
- Weakened shoulder strength.
- Unstable shoulder.
- Locking or catching sensation when moving.
- Sleep difficulty due to shoulder discomfort.
- Shoulder dislocations.
- Dull throbbing ache in the shoulder joint.
- Pain with specific activities.
- Clicking or catching feeling in the shoulder joint.
Pain
The shoulder is an extremely mobile joint that’s susceptible to injury. Labral tears can be especially problematic, causing pain when lifting heavy objects overhead or playing sports that involve shoulder movements. Your doctor can diagnose any potential problems with physical examination and imaging tests.
Since X-rays do not show tears in soft tissue, your doctor may order other imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan to examine the inside of your shoulder joint and view its interior. Injection of contrast dye into your shoulder makes it easier for doctors to detect tears.
Your doctor can perform an exam that involves placing the shoulder into positions to mimic its symptoms and check for pain, tenderness, range of motion issues and grinding noises in the joint as it moves. If he suspects labral tear he or she will likely recommend physical therapy including range of motion exercises that progress into stretching and strengthening exercises.
Limited Range of Motion
The shoulder labrum serves as a cushion and helps stabilize the ball of the shoulder socket (glenoid) against the top end of arm bone (humerus).
A labral tear can limit how the shoulder moves in certain directions, most often seen during sports that involve repetitive overhead arm movements such as throwing baseballs or serving tennis serves. But tears may also result from trauma to the shoulder or general wear over time.
Your orthopedic doctor will perform a physical exam of your shoulder to identify its source. X-rays can help rule out issues with bones in the joint; however, they cannot detect soft tissue injuries like labrum tears.
Your physician may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or computed tomography (CT) scan with dye injection to gain more detailed images of structures inside of the shoulder joint.
Instability
Labrum tears may cause the shoulder to feel loose and unstable. This is because the labrum acts as a cushion between the humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder socket, providing support and helping keep the ball of joint in its place.
When torn, however, stability decreases rapidly, potentially dislocating altogether – particularly concerning for pitchers who utilize repetitive throwing motions with their shoulder.
Nontraumatic labral tears often result from weakness in the muscles that support shoulder joints, leading to increased stress on the labrum and ultimately leading to its tear. While such tears may be less painful, they often go undetected until too late.
For proper diagnosis of shoulder labrum tears, your physician will discuss your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They’ll test range of motion, strength and stability by moving your arm in various positions while listening for any grinding noises within the joint. Although X-rays and MRI scans cannot directly see a labrum tear, they can help your doctor rule out other injuries that might exist.
Surgery
Your doctor can identify a labral tear during a physical exam by moving your shoulder and arm into different positions, and ordering either an MRI scan or computerized axial tomography scan to inspect and understand any damage inflicted on it.
Surgery options for labral tears vary based on their severity and any accompanying issues, such as dislocation or rotator cuff tears. If the labrum has only been slightly torn, minimally invasive surgery such as arthroscopy may provide a way of cleaning and trimming damaged cartilage without invading surrounding structures.
More serious labral tears may require surgery to resuture the labrum to the glenoid bone and/or repair of biceps tendon during this process. Following surgery, your surgeon will likely recommend physical therapy to restore range of motion and strength; most people can return to their sports and activities with no restrictions whatsoever.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From a Shoulder Labrum Tear
Recovering from a shoulder labrum tear can be a lengthy process, lasting weeks to months. Severity and treatment play significant roles in the recovery period. Here are some general timelines:
For minor tears, sans surgery, rest and physical therapy suffice.
Surgical intervention entails varying recovery times. Arthroscopic surgery heals quicker than open surgery.
The labrum takes roughly 4-6 weeks to reattach to the bone rim, followed by an additional 4-6 weeks to regain strength.
Post-surgery, patients wear a sling for 4-6 weeks, immobilizing and aiding the shoulder’s rest and healing.
Physical therapy, spanning 4-6 weeks, may be prescribed to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
After about three months, sports-specific training is feasible for most, with a full return to sports within four to six months.
Recovery timelines differ based on individuals and tear severity. Accurate diagnosis and treatment necessitate consultation with healthcare professionals.
Can a Shoulder Labrum Tear Heal on Its Own
A shoulder labrum tear can heal on its own without surgery, depending on the severity of the damage to the cartilage. The labrum has a rich blood supply, which can help it heal with adequate rest. However, some labral damage may be virtually undetectable, and a labral tear may not correctly heal on its own, leading to chronic pain and reduced mobility.
Non-surgical routes, like physical therapy, commonly initiate labrum tear repair. Physical therapy bolsters arm muscles, while bolstering shoulder mobility and range of motion. Typically, a three-month regimen emphasizing upper body fortification is prescribed. If progress emerges within this period, surgical intervention may not be necessary. However, deterioration or negligible improvement necessitates surgical intervention to restore shoulder functionality.
Surgery guarantees proper labrum healing, particularly for athletes seeking swift recovery. Minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques minimize stiffness and pain linked to traditional open surgery. Diagnosing labrum tears demands surgeon expertise, given the intricate shoulder anatomy.
The connection between tear symptoms and labrum remains somewhat enigmatic, making it unclear which tears necessitate repair and which can be left untouched. Treatment hinges upon the tear type. Tears arising from shoulder instability, such as subluxation or dislocation, mandate labrum reattachment to the socket rim.
What Exercises Can Help With Shoulder Labrum Tear Rehabilitation
Shoulder labrum tear rehabilitation exercises aid in restoring mobility, strength, and flexibility. Prior consultation with a medical professional is crucial before commencing any exercise regimen for a labral tear. Medical experts endorse the following exercises:
– Wand or cane flexion
– Shoulder flexion
– Single arm row
– Internal rotation with band
– Sidelying external rotation
– Wall stretches
– Pendulum exercise
– Scapular stability exercise
Practicing these exercises requires proper form, and progression should align with pain tolerance. It is vital to note that certain shoulder range of motion exercises must be avoided. Thus, consulting a doctor becomes imperative to determine the need for surgery and to identify safe exercises.
