Shoulder Labrum Tear Treatment in New York
What is a labral tear?
A shoulder labrum tear is a common sports injury that affects the shoulder joint, which involves a tear in the labrum. Your labrum refers to the small ring of protective cartilage that sits between the ball and socket in the shoulder joint. It acts as a soft cushioning between the two bones and helps keep the shoulder joint together. Commonly, a torn labrum affects people who have structural shoulder abnormalities or those who participate in sports including hockey, football, softball, and baseball.
If you’re looking for labrum tear treatment, request an appointment at Performance Health in NYC and Pearl River today by calling our NYC office at (212) 486-8616. Our board-certified physicians and specialists are experts at treating shoulder labrum tears and other injuries. Learn more about labral tears and our treatment options below.
What causes a labrum tear?
A labral tear is often the result of a traumatic injury to the shoulder joint, such as a car accident, sports injury, or other trauma. In other cases, a shoulder tear is the result of overuse of the joint over time. This can occur in people who play sports or have jobs that use repetitive shoulder movements. The constant movement causes strain on the shoulder joint and causes wear-and-tear over time and makes a shoulder labral tear more likely to occur. In rarer cases, a person is born with certain structural differences in their shoulder joint, making them more susceptible to a shoulder injury. In addition, shoulder instability as a result of a prior injury can increase your chances of suffering from a labral tear.
What are the symptoms of a labral tear?
If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms of a shoulder labral tear, visit Performance Health for an evaluation and diagnosis:
- “Clicking” sensation in your shoulder
- Shoulder pain
- Limited range of motion in shoulder
- Shoulder weakness or stiffness
What are the risk factors for a labral tear?
Factors that can increase your chances of developing a shoulder labral tear include the following:
- Sports – Participating in sports, including softball or golf, increases the odds that you will suffer from a labral tear over time.
- Genetics – Having a genetic shoulder abnormality increases your chance of suffering from a labral injury.
- Workplace – If you have a job that requires constant shoulder movements and twisting, you may have a higher risk of suffering from a labral tear at some point.
How is a labral tear diagnosed?
At Performance Health, we offer comprehensive diagnostic testing that helps pinpoint the exact cause of your shoulder pain. Generally, a labral tear diagnosis can be made during a simple physical exam involving moving your arm and shoulder joint into different positions to evaluate your range of motion. In addition, your doctor may ask you questions about your pain level, other symptoms, and your participation in sports. When necessary, you may also be asked to have an x-ray done to check for signs of other injuries in the surrounding bones.
How is a labral tear treated?
Sometimes, a labral tear is severe enough that it requires surgical intervention, however, other times it repairs itself with rest and conservative treatments. At Performance Health, we offer the following non-surgical treatment options for a torn labrum in the shoulder:
- Physical therapy and myofascial release
- Pain management
- Sports medicine and rehabilitation
- Massage therapy
- Regenerative and alternative medicine
If you are suffering from shoulder pain, the first step to improving your health and returning to your normal activities is to schedule an evaluation at Performance Health. Our physicians can help you get back to performance-level health. Call one of our New York offices at 212.486.8616, or fill out the form on this page to request an appointment now.