How long does it take for a torn labrum to heal without surgery? If you have a damaged labrum, non-surgical therapy may take three to four months to restore it to full function. Following SLAP tear surgery, it is possible to require up to a year of recuperation.
Full Answer
How long does a torn labrum take to heal?
How long does it take to rehab a torn labrum? You will need to perform flexibility exercises to help restore strength and mobility to your shoulder once you remove the sling. For the most part, you may anticipate to be out of commission between three and six months following your torn labrum shoulder surgery.
Will a torn labrum heal on its own?
May 11, 2020 · After a labrum tear in your shoulder, you should expect to return to normal activity in about six to eight weeks. If you are not making progress with physical therapy, you may need more aggressive treatments like shoulder surgery. 1 Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about your condition to understand what to expect.
How to heal a torn labrum without surgery?
You can expect it to take 6 to 8 weeks for the labrum to reattach to the bone, and 3 to 6 more months of physical therapy to strengthen the area. Exercises begin with gentle, assisted range of motion movements, eventually followed by rotating and strengthening exercise for your shoulder joint and shoulder blade.
What is the recovery time for a labral tear without surgery?
Nov 10, 2020 · Athletes may require six months to one year for full recovery, with overhead throwing athletes taking the longest. Regardless of which type of surgery is performed, almost all athletes are advised to wear a sling for the first four weeks after …
Can you rehab a torn shoulder labrum?
A labral tear can occur from a fall or from repetitive work activities or sports that require you to use your arms raised above your head. Some labral tears can be managed with physical therapy; in severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the torn labrum.Dec 1, 2016
What is the fastest way to heal a labrum tear?
SLAP tears are usually treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications and, in some cases, an in-office cortisone injection. This is followed by gradual stretching of the shoulder, initially with a physical therapist, for six weeks to two months.Nov 10, 2020
Can you workout with a torn labrum?
It is important to strengthen your shoulder muscles while limiting stress on your injured labrum. The biceps tendon attaches to your labrum. Strong contractions of your biceps muscle can pull on the upper part of your labrum. Therefore it is best to perform strengthening exercises that minimize biceps activity.Apr 14, 2020
Is labral tear surgery worth it?
Doctors recommend labral tear surgery to patients who they think are good candidates—these patient are not at high risk for surgical complications and are likely to have good postsurgical results. For other patients, a hip replacement or other hip surgery may be considered.
What is the shoulder labrum?
The labrum is a cup-shaped rim of cartilage that lines and reinforces the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder.
What does a torn shoulder labrum feel like?
The most common symptoms of a torn shoulder labrum are: shoulder pain, instability and, in some cases, a feeling of grinding, locking or catching w...
What are the different types of shoulder labral tears?
The two most common types of labral injuries are SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears and Bankart tears. Both types of tears are...
Can labral tears of the shoulder be prevented?
Unfortunately, labral tears are hard to prevent, especially in throwing sport athletes, because the force of overhead motion contributes to the inj...
Can a shoulder labral tear heal without surgery?
In some cases, the labrum can heal with rest and physical therapy, depending on the severity of the tear.
When do you need surgery for a torn shoulder labrum?
Surgery may be required if the tear gets worse or does not improve after physical therapy.
What is the recovery time for shoulder labrum repair surgery?
Patients who undergo arthroscopic repair can expect shorter recovery times and less pain. Those undergoing open surgery should expect more pain, lo...
How long does it take for a labrum to reattach?
You can expect it to take 6 to 8 weeks for the labrum to reattach to the bone, and 3 to 6 more months of physical therapy to strengthen the area. Exercises begin with gentle, assisted range of motion movements, eventually followed by rotating and strengthening exercise for your shoulder joint and shoulder blade.
What is labrum tear?
The other common type of labrum injury is a Bankart tear, which is an injury to the mid or lower part of the labrum. It usually happens when you dislocate your shoulder, either toward the front or back of your body. A doctor can usually pop the shoulder back into place, which is called a reduction. Treatment is similar to a SLAP injury and includes: 1 Rest and a sling or brace 2 Anti-inflammatory medicine 3 Physical therapy
How long does it take for a slap tear to heal?
Treatment often includes: You can expect it to take 6 to 8 weeks for the labrum to reattach to the bone, and 3 to 6 more months of physical therapy to strengthen the area. ...
Why is it so hard to diagnose labrum tears?
Labrum tears can be hard to diagnose because the cartilage lies deep in the shoulder, a complicated part of the anatomy. Your doctor will do a physical exam and may order imaging studies, including an MRI or a simple surgical procedure called arthroscopy.
What is a Bankart tear?
The other common type of labrum injury is a Bankart tear, which is an injury to the mid or lower part of the labrum. It usually happens when you dislocate your shoulder, either toward the front or back of your body. A doctor can usually pop the shoulder back into place, which is called a reduction. Treatment is similar to a SLAP injury and includes:
How to treat labral tear?
Surgical Treatment and Recovery for Labral Tears. If you are an athlete who relies on shoulder function to play your sport, or if your tear has destabilized your shoulder, surgery is an option. Doctors will perform the operation arthroscopically, which means a small incision and faster healing time. Surgery is more common for Bankart tears ...
Who is Nancy LeBrun?
Nancy LeBrun is an Emmy- and Peabody award-winning writer and producer who has been writing about health and wellness for more than five years. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS.
How to tell if you have a labrum tear?
The most common symptoms of a torn shoulder labrum are: shoulder pain, instability and, in some cases, a feeling of grinding, locking or catching while moving the shoulder. These symptoms may vary depending on the type of labral tear a person has.
What is the labrum of the shoulder?
The labrum is a cup-shaped rim of cartilage that lines and reinforces the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder. The shoulder joint is composed of the glenoid (the shallow shoulder "socket") and the head of the upper arm bone known as the humerus (the "ball").
What are the two most common types of labral injuries?
The two most common types of labral injuries are SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears and Bankart tears. Both types of tears are usually accompanied by aching pain and difficulty performing normal shoulder movements.
What is Bankart tear?
Bankart tears. Bankart tears typically occur in younger patients who have dislocated their shoulder. When the shoulder joint ball slips out of the socket, the joint capsule (fiberous tissues that surround and protect the joint) can pull on the lower portion of the labrum and tear it.
What is the treatment for a slap tear?
SLAP tears are usually treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications and, in some cases, an in-office cortisone injection.
How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?
Those undergoing open surgery should expect more pain, longer recovery, and in some cases incomplete shoulder rotation. Athletes may require six months to one year for full recovery, with overhead throwing athletes taking the longest.
Where do slap tears occur?
SLAP tears occur at the front of the upper arm where the biceps tendon connects to the shoulder. "Athletes most prone to this injury include baseball pitchers and volleyball players who engage in high-energy, quick-snap motions over the top of the shoulder," says Dr. Stephen Fealy, an orthopedic surgeon in the Sports Medicine Institute. Patients with SLAP tears may experience pain at the front of the shoulder near the biceps tendon.
How to treat labrum injury?
Symptoms of a labrum injury can range from a minor annoyance to debilitating. In many people it severely limits overhead activity and the ability to carry out routine daily activities. The right exercises can help. For the best results, exercise 3 to 5 times per week. Infrequent or random exercise will do you little good. Give these 5 exercises a shot for at least 3 months and see how things go for you. If you want more help give us a call . Our physical therapists can help you find additional exercises right for you and supplement these with manual therapy treatments. You don’t have to keep suffering and you have options other than surgery.
How to repair labrum?
Surgery is often recommended to repair a torn labrum . However, exercise can also be a very effective treatment option. Non-operative management includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid injections to decrease pain and inflammation.
How to strengthen the trapezius?
Start with your hand positioned in front of your opposite front hip pocket. Your elbow remains bent at a right angle throughout the exercise. Perform the movement by flexing and rotating your arm across your body. You will end up in a position similar to the arm cocking part of throwing. Hold this position 1 to 2 seconds. Reverse the movement back to the starting position. This is a great exercise for the rotator cuff and lower trapezius muscle. Perform 3 sets of 12 to 20 repetitions several times per week.
How to strengthen the rotator cuff?
Usually 1 or 2 pounds is enough to begin with. Perform a high row with your elbow in line with your shoulder. Pause 1 to 2 seconds then rotate your hand upwards towards the ceiling. Hold this position 1 to 2 seconds. Reverse the movement back to the starting position. This is another great exercise for the rotator cuff and lower trapezius muscle. Perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions several times per week.
Why is shoulder flexion important?
Shoulder Flexion in Side-lying. It is important to strengthen your shoulder muscles while limiting stress on your injured labrum. The biceps tendon attaches to your labrum. Strong contractions of your biceps muscle can pull on the upper part of your labrum. Therefore it is best to perform strengthening exercises which minimize biceps activity.
What is shoulder rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation focuses on improving shoulder range of motion and strengthening the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles. Below are videos of 2 important stretches and 3 commonly prescribed strengthening exercises you can perform in your home.
How to stretch elbow and shoulder?
Your involved shoulder and elbow are positioned in 90 degrees of flexion. Your hand of the uninvolved arm grasps your elbow and gently pulls it across the body. You want to feel a mild stretch on the outside or back of your shoulder. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Perform this stretch 2 to 3 times each session.
How long does it take for a labrum to heal?
It is believed that it takes at least four to six weeks for the labrum to reattach itself to the rim of the bone, and probably another four to six weeks to get strong.
What is the labrum of the shoulder?
What You Need to Know. The shoulder labrum is a thick piece of tissue attached to the rim of the shoulder socket that helps keep the ball of the joint in place. The labrum can tear a few different ways: 1) completely off the bone, 2) within or along the edge of the labrum, or 3) where the bicep tendon attaches.
Where is the labrum located?
The labrum is a type of cartilage found in the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint where the arm meets the body. The arm bone (humerus) forms a ball at the shoulder that meets the socket, which is part of the shoulder blade. These two bones are connected by ligaments — tough tissues forming tethers that hold ...
Can a labrum tear cause catching?
It is seen frequently in the shoulder as people get older (over 40 years of age). Sometimes the labrum may have a large tear where a portion of the labrum gets into the joint and causes clicking and catching as the ball moves around in the socket.
What are the two bones that connect to each other?
These two bones are connected by ligaments — tough tissues forming tethers that hold the bones in relationship to each other. There are two kinds of cartilage in the joint. The first type is the white cartilage on the ends of the bones (articular cartilage) which allows the bones to glide and move on each other.
Where is the tendon in the shoulder?
The portion that attaches in the shoulder actually goes through a small hole in the rotator cuff tendons designed specifically for that tendon. Once inside the joint, the tendon is attached in part to the bone near the socket and in part to the labrum at the top of the joint.
Is the labrum detached?
There have been several grading systems or classification systems of this injury. In a lesser injury, the labrum is only partially detached in this area. In a more severe injury, the whole labrum is pulled off of the bone along with the biceps tendon. The most common classification divides SLAP lesions into four types.
How to tell if labrum is torn?
Here are a few symptoms that may point to a torn shoulder labrum. As always, a diagnosis by a professional is the best way to know if your labrum is torn and the extent of the damage. Discomfort or noises such as grinding, grating, clicking, popping or feeling “sticky” during movement.
What is the best doctor for labrum tear?
If you are suffering from shoulder pain, and you suspect it may be a torn labrum, Dr. Steve Hamilton is a board certified, sub-specialty trained orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Hamilton will provide a thorough physical exam and a comprehensive review of your medical history to ensure a proper diagnosis and the right treatment recommendation for you. He also uses diagnostic imaging, such as MRI and X-ray, to help ensure that your treatment will be as effective as possible. Don’t let shoulder instability keep you from sports or an active lifestyle! Take the next step to address your shoulder pain and schedule your appointment with Dr. Steve Hamilton at Beacon Orthopedics. You may also schedule by phone 24/7 at 513.354.3700.
Why is the labrum important?
The labrum is crucial for shoulder stability, which is necessary for nearly all sports. Surgery ensures that the labrum will heal in the right place. The procedure is performed through an arthroscope where a surgeon uses a tiny camera and canula to access the joint. The labrum is re-attached to the glenoid ...
What is the labrum?
The labrum is a cartilage buffer in the shoulder joint that provides stability and reduces force and friction for the bones. When healthy, the labrum is an important part of correct, pain-free shoulder function. However, the shoulder labrum, like other cartilage discs in our body (such as the hip labrum or meniscus), ...
Who is the doctor for shoulder pain?
Take the next step to address your shoulder pain and schedule your appointment with Dr. Steve Hamilton at Beacon Orthopedics. You may also schedule by phone 24/7 at 513.354.3700. < Tech Neck. Above and Beyond: Part One >.
What causes a labral tear?
These typically happen to those 15-35 years of age and can be caused by an impact, fall, or overloading the shoulder. These are common for contact sports like football and hockey. A shoulder dislocation or subluxation events can injure the labrum and result in shoulder instability. This is typically referred to as an “acute labral tear.” If a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) is on-site, they will be able to assess the injury and immobilize the shoulder so no further damage occurs.
What age do you get shoulder pain?
This is more typical in someone over age 30 who often tries to perform at the same level of athleticism as they did in their 20s. It may occur from swinging a golf club or tennis racquet or from a variety of other shoulder movements.