Labral Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Private Treatment

Reviewed By:
Dr. Sameer Gohir PhD, MSc, PG Cert MSK ultrasound, PG Cert. Non-Medical Prescribing, MCSP, MAPPN
Muhammad Asim Ishaque MSc, PG Cert MSK ultrasound, Dip. MSK Medicine, PG Cert. Non-Medical Prescribing, MCSP, MAPPN

What Is Labral Injury?

Shoulder labral tears are injuries to the labrum, a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket (glenoid). The labrum helps to deepen the socket, providing stability to the shoulder joint and serving as an attachment point for ligaments and the biceps tendon. A tear in the labrum can cause pain, instability, and other symptoms.

Shoulder pain or clicking from a labral injury? Joint Injection Clinic near Kent and Essex offers treatments to help restore your shoulder stability.

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Labral Injury

Common Causes of Labral Injury

Labral tears can occur due to a variety of factors:

  • Degeneration: Over time, the labrum can naturally wear down, making it more susceptible to tearing. This is more common in older individuals.
  • Traumatic Injury: A sudden, forceful event is a common cause. This can include falling onto an outstretched arm, a direct blow to the shoulder, or a sudden pull on the arm. Dislocations of the shoulder, especially anterior dislocations where the humerus (upper arm bone) moves forward out of the socket, are often associated with a type of labral tear called a Bankart tear.
  • Repetitive Overhead Motion: Athletes who perform repetitive overhead movements, such as baseball pitchers, swimmers, and tennis players, are at risk of developing certain types of labral tears, particularly SLAP tears. These tears occur at the top of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches, often due to the peel-back force on the labrum during overhead activities.

Symptoms of Labral Injury

The symptoms of a labral tear can vary depending on the size and location of the tear, but commonly include:

  • Shoulder pain, often a deep ache within the joint.
  • A catching, clicking, popping, or grinding sensation with shoulder movement.
  • Instability or a feeling that the shoulder is going to give out or dislocate.
  • Decreased range of motion.
  • Weakness in the shoulder or arm.

Pain with specific activities, such as throwing, lifting overhead, or reaching across the body.

Treatment Options for Labral Injury

Treatment for a labral tear depends on the severity of the tear, the patient’s age, activity level, and symptoms. Treatment approaches can be nonsurgical or surgical.

Nonsurgical Treatment:

  • Rest and Activity Modification: Avoiding activities that cause pain and allowing the shoulder to rest can help.
  • Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications can help manage pain and inflammation.
  • Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is often the initial treatment. It focuses on strengthening the muscles around the shoulder (rotator cuff and scapular muscles) to improve stability and restore range of motion.
  • Injections: Corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation and pain, providing temporary relief.

Nonsurgical treatment can be successful for some individuals, particularly those with smaller tears or less severe symptoms.

Surgical Treatment:

Surgery may be recommended if nonsurgical treatment does not relieve symptoms or if the tear is large or causing significant instability. Surgical procedures are often performed arthroscopically, using small incisions and a camera to visualize and repair the tear.

  • Labral Repair: The torn labrum is reattached to the bone using sutures or anchors. This is often done for Bankart tears to restore stability after a dislocation.
  • Biceps Tenodesis or Tenotomy: If a SLAP tear involves the biceps tendon, a surgeon may perform a biceps tenodesis (reattaching the biceps tendon to a different location on the humerus) or a biceps tenotomy (releasing the biceps tendon from its attachment). These procedures can help relieve pain associated with biceps involvement in SLAP tears.

Rehabilitation after surgery is essential for regaining strength, mobility, and function. It typically involves a structured physical therapy program and can take several months for a full recovery, especially for athletes returning to sports.

Private Shoulder Labral Injury Assessment & Rehabilitation

Deep shoulder pain, catching or recurrent instability can have several causes, and a labral tear cannot be confirmed from symptoms alone. A private shoulder assessment can help decide whether rehabilitation is appropriate or whether further imaging and specialist review are needed.

Physiotherapy may be used to improve rotator cuff and shoulder-blade control and build stability around the joint. A corticosteroid injection can occasionally be considered for associated joint inflammation or pain, but it does not repair the labrum. Recurrent dislocation, significant traumatic instability or persistent mechanical symptoms may need an orthopaedic opinion.

Shoulder Labral Injury Assessment Near You

Dartford Clinic – North Kent & South East London

MSK Physiotherapy in Dartford

Kings Hill Clinic — West Malling & Mid Kent

MSK Physiotherapy in Kings Hill

Canterbury Clinic – East Kent & the Kent Coast

MSK Physiotherapy in Canterbury

Romford Clinic – East London & Essex

MSK Physiotherapy in Romford


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Frequently Asked Questions

No. A corticosteroid injection may reduce associated pain or inflammation in selected cases, but it does not repair the torn labrum.

Some patients improve with activity modification and rehabilitation, particularly when instability is limited. Recurrent dislocation or persistent mechanical symptoms may require surgical assessment.

Other Shoulder Conditions We Treat

Not sure whether your symptoms match this condition? Explore the other shoulder pain conditions assessed and treated at JIC.