Shoulder Labral Injury Treatment in Kilsyth | Physiotherapy & Myotherapy

What Is a Shoulder Labral Injury?

A shoulder labral injury occurs when the labrum, a ring of tough cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket, becomes damaged or torn.

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint, and the labrum helps deepen the socket and contributes to shoulder stability. It also provides attachment points for several ligaments and the biceps tendon. A labral tear can occur following a traumatic event, such as a fall, collision or shoulder dislocation, or develop gradually due to repetitive overhead movements.

Shoulder labral tears are commonly associated with sports involving throwing, serving, swimming and other repetitive overhead activities. Shoulder labral injuries can cause deep shoulder pain, clicking, catching, weakness and feelings of instability. Physiotherapy can help improve shoulder strength, stability and movement control, while some labral injuries may require medical imaging or orthopaedic assessment.

At Physio Elements in Kilsyth, our Physiotherapists can assess your symptoms and develop an individualised rehabilitation plan.

What Are the Symptoms of a Shoulder Labral Tear?

Symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the labral injury.
Common symptoms may include:

• Deep shoulder pain
• Pain with overhead movements
• Clicking, catching or popping
• A feeling of shoulder instability
• Shoulder weakness
• Reduced range of movement
• Pain during throwing or serving
• Pain when lifting weights
• Pain when reaching behind the body
• A feeling that the shoulder may slip or give way
• Reduced sporting performance
• Pain when lying on the affected shoulder

Some labral injuries cause relatively mild symptoms, while others can significantly affect shoulder function and sporting performance.

Shoulder Labral Tear vs Other Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder labral tears can cause symptoms that overlap with other shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff injuries, shoulder instability, AC joint injuries and shoulder impingement. Clicking, deep shoulder pain, weakness or instability do not necessarily mean you have a labral tear. A thorough assessment can help determine the likely cause of your symptoms and whether further
investigation is required.

What Causes Shoulder Labral Injuries?

Labral injuries can occur through either a sudden traumatic event or repetitive loading of the shoulder.

Traumatic Shoulder Injuries

A labral tear can occur following:

• A shoulder dislocation
• A shoulder subluxation
• A fall onto an outstretched arm
• A direct impact
• A sudden force through the shoulder
• A forceful pulling movement

Labral injuries can occur alongside other shoulder injuries, particularly following a dislocation.

Repetitive Overhead Activity

Repeated overhead movements can place significant demands on the shoulder and labrum.
This can occur in sports such as:

• Baseball
• Cricket
• Tennis
• Swimming
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Throwing sports

Repetitive overhead activity can be particularly relevant to certain types of labral injuries, including SLAP injuries.

Weight Training

Certain gym movements can place substantial loads through the shoulder. Bench pressing, overhead pressing, dips and other upper-body exercises may aggravate symptoms in some people with an existing labral injury.

What Are the Different Types of Shoulder Labral Injuries?

There are different types of labral injuries depending on where the labrum has been damaged.

SLAP Tear

A SLAP tear affects the upper part of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches. SLAP stands for “superior labrum anterior to posterior.” SLAP injuries can occur following trauma or repetitive overhead activity and are particularly relevant to throwing and overhead athletes.

Bankart Lesion

A Bankart lesion involves damage to the front and lower portion of the labrum. It can occur following a shoulder dislocation and may contribute to ongoing shoulder instability or recurrent dislocations.

Other Labral Tears

Labral damage can occur in other areas of the shoulder depending on the mechanism of injury and the structures involved.
Because different labral injuries can produce similar symptoms, an appropriate clinical assessment is important.

How Is a Shoulder Labral Tear Diagnosed?

Diagnosing a labral injury involves considering your symptoms, injury history and shoulder function.
Your Physiotherapist may assess:

• Shoulder range of movement
• Shoulder strength
• Rotator cuff function
• Shoulder stability
• Shoulder blade control
• Pain during specific movements
• Clicking or catching
• Sport-specific movements
• Throwing or overhead mechanics
• Previous dislocations or subluxations
• Functional limitations

A Physiotherapy assessment can help identify whether your symptoms are consistent with a labral injury or another shoulder condition. Imaging may be required to investigate a suspected labral tear. Depending on the injury, a doctor may recommend imaging such as an MRI or MR arthrogram.

How Does Physiotherapy Help a Shoulder Labral Injury?

Physiotherapy can play an important role in the rehabilitation of many shoulder labral injuries. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury, your symptoms, activity levels and sporting requirements. Rehabilitation generally aims to improve shoulder strength, stability, movement control and the ability to tolerate everyday and sporting activities.

What Does Physiotherapy Treatment Involve?

Depending on your individual presentation, treatment may include:

• Education about your injury
• Activity modification
• Advice regarding work, sport and exercise
• Pain management strategies
• Shoulder mobility exercises
• Rotator cuff strengthening
• Shoulder stability exercises
• Shoulder blade control
• Progressive resistance training
• Movement retraining
• Sport-specific rehabilitation
• Return-to-training planning
• Return-to-sport rehabilitation

Your Physiotherapist will progressively increase the demands placed on your shoulder as your strength, control and tolerance improve.

Can a Shoulder Labral Tear Heal Without Surgery?

Not every labral injury requires surgery.
Some people can manage their symptoms and return to their usual activities with appropriate rehabilitation, particularly when shoulder strength and stability can be improved. However, treatment depends on the type and severity of the tear, the presence of instability, your sporting requirements and whether other shoulder structures have also been injured.

If symptoms persist despite appropriate rehabilitation, or if the shoulder repeatedly dislocates or feels unstable, further medical or orthopaedic assessment may be recommended.

When Is Surgery Considered for a Labral Tear?

Surgery is not automatically required for every labral injury.
An orthopaedic assessment may be appropriate when there is:

• Recurrent shoulder dislocation
• Significant shoulder instability
• Persistent symptoms despite rehabilitation
• Significant structural damage
• High sporting demands requiring substantial shoulder stability
• An injury that is not responding as expected to conservative treatment

If surgery is required, Physiotherapy is an important part of both pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation.

What Is Physiotherapy Like After Labral Surgery?

Following labral surgery, rehabilitation is carefully progressed according to the type of procedure and your surgeon’s recommendations.

Early rehabilitation may focus on protecting the repaired structures, managing pain and swelling, restoring appropriate movement and maintaining surrounding muscle function. As recovery progresses, rehabilitation may include rotator cuff strengthening, shoulder stability, progressive resistance training, functional and sport-specific exercises, throwing or overhead rehabilitation and
return-to-sport testing.

Your Physiotherapist will work within the appropriate post-operative guidelines and gradually increase the demands placed on your shoulder.

Can I Go to the Gym With a Labral Injury?

You may be able to continue exercising, but some movements may need to be modified depending on your symptoms and the type of labral injury.

Exercises involving heavy pressing, overhead movements or positions that reproduce instability may need to be temporarily reduced or modified.

Your Physiotherapist can help you maintain as much activity as possible while gradually rebuilding shoulder strength and capacity.
How Does Myotherapy Help a Shoulder Labral Injury?

Myotherapy can complement Physiotherapy by addressing muscular tension and soft tissue discomfort around the shoulder.
Following a labral injury, changes in movement can cause surrounding muscles in the shoulder, neck, chest and upper back to become tight or overloaded.

Myotherapy does not directly repair a torn labrum or stabilise the shoulder joint. Instead, it may help manage associated muscular tension and discomfort as part of a broader rehabilitation program.

How Long Does a Shoulder Labral Injury Take to Recover?

Recovery time varies significantly depending on the type and severity of the labral injury and whether surgery is required.
Some people can improve with conservative rehabilitation over several weeks or months, while recovery following labral surgery can take several months.
Recovery may also depend on:

• The location and extent of the labral injury
• Shoulder stability
• Previous dislocations
• Sporting demands
• Training requirements
• Whether other structures are injured
• Rehabilitation progression

Your Physiotherapist can provide a more personalised recovery plan following assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Labral Injuries

Looking for Shoulder Labral Injury Treatment in Kilsyth?

Whether your shoulder pain started after a sporting injury, fall, dislocation or repetitive overhead activity, getting an appropriate assessment can help you understand your symptoms and determine the next steps.

At Physio Elements in Kilsyth, our experienced Physiotherapists can assess shoulder pain, instability and suspected labral injuries and develop a personalised rehabilitation program based on your individual needs and goals.

Our Myotherapists can also assist with associated muscular tension and soft tissue discomfort as part of your overall recovery.

Book an appointment with Physio Elements today to have your shoulder assessed and start working towards a stronger, more stable and functional shoulder.

Article reviewed by:
Jordan Tierney, Qualified Myotherapist, Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy, Physio Elements, Kilsyth.