Hi everyone! Dr. Matt Toone and Dr. Jordan Brady here at Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy. Today we want to discuss a shoulder injury that we see pretty often. The shoulder is a very mobile joint, and deep in the joint is a piece of cartilage called a labrum that helps to provide stability in the joint. However, because the shoulder can move in so many different ways, this labrum can occasionally become damaged or torn. We want to help you know if this has happened to you.
How do I injure my labrum?
- Most often occurs from a FOOSH (fall on outstretched arm) or reaching with your hand to protect from a fall.
- Some injury / trauma / fall
- Can occur with a really strong contraction of the biceps (Bending your elbow)
- Often occurs in contact sports such as football and wrestling, or other sports such as basketball, volleyball, tumbling, and cheerleading.
How do I know if I injured my labrum?
- Pain will be present in the shoulder and upper arm (pain can be anterior or front, lateral or side, and posterior or back)
- Clicking and popping may occur, especially with lowering the shoulder
- Range of motion may be limited
- Lots of weakness and pain in shoulder
- Compressing the joint hurts, distracting the joint feels good
- Feelings of instability when moving the shoulder<l/i>
There are several tests that we, as physical therapists, can perform that can help to determine if you really did tear or injure your labrum. If you feel that you may have this problem, we would love to help you! Physical therapy is often the first method of treatment for a labral tear. We evaluate each person individually, and we establish a plan of care that includes restoring your range of motion, and then working specifically to improve the areas of weakness and instability that will be unique to each person. Treatment also includes manual therapy, focused on decreasing muscle soreness and increasing the mobility of the tissues surrounding the shoulder joint. Because the labrum gets poor blood supply, we also will do several therapies to help stimulate blood flow to the joint. Each session is tailored to you, and gets you back to whatever it is that you’re passionate about.Here at Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy, we are prepared to guide you through a personalized treatment plan based on your body, your goals, and your needs. We have been here in our Layton location for over 30 years, and see patients of all ages and conditions. If you need Physical Therapy and live in or around these areas, we can help you: Layton, Syracuse, Clearfield, Clinton, Farmington, Kaysville, Bountiful, Ogden, and Roy areas. Call us today with any questions or to set up an appointment. You can reach us at 801-773-1350.
