Neck & Shoulder

What It Is

A glenoid labrum tear (known simply as a labral tear) is a tear to the rim around the edge of the shoulder socket. The labrum is a rim of cartilage tissue that sits around the socket, helping to keep the upper arm in place and to stabilise the shoulder (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Heavy trauma to the shoulder, such as a fall while skiing or snowboarding, or a heavy contact in rugby or football, can force the upper arm against the socket and cause a labral tear. Traumatic labral tears often happen when the shoulder dislocates (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Some labral tears are related to overuse, especially in athletes who do a lot of overhead throwing or overhead sports, where large forces go through the shoulder repeatedly (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Rose and Noonan, 2018).

Labral tears can also develop through normal wear and tear of the joint, along with the development of arthritis (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

How to Spot a Labral Tear

Symptoms can be similar to those of other shoulder injuries. They can include a feeling that the shoulder is unstable, deep shoulder pain (usually with overhead or reaching movements), catching, locking, popping or grinding in the shoulder, pain at night or with daily activities, reduced movement and loss of strength (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Diagnosing a labral tear starts with a thorough history of how the problem began. If a heavy trauma has occurred, a labral tear is more likely. If the person is younger and plays a competitive overhead sport, this could also suggest a labral tear.

An MRI scan is the best type of imaging for showing injuries to soft tissues such as the labrum (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). An MR arthrogram (MRA), which is an MRI scan with a contrast dye injected into the joint, can pick up labral tears more reliably than a standard MRI (Rose and Noonan, 2018).

Surgeons can also look inside the joint using a tiny camera, which is known as an arthroscopy, and can repair some labral tears in this way (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Glenoid Labrum Tear Anatomy

There are three bones in the shoulder: the shoulder blade (scapula), the upper arm bone (humerus) and the collarbone (clavicle). The head of the upper arm bone rests in a shallow socket on the shoulder blade, called the glenoid. The head of the upper arm bone is much larger than the socket.

The labrum surrounds the socket and helps to stabilise the joint. It deepens the socket by up to 50 percent, which allows the head of the upper arm bone to fit into position better. It is also an attachment point for several ligaments and for one of the tendons of the biceps muscle (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Glenoid Labrum Tear

In many cases, non-surgical treatment relieves symptoms and allows the injured structures to heal, with exercises to improve the range of motion of the shoulder and the strength of the shoulder muscles, including the rotator cuff, which improves the stability of the shoulder (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). I can guide you through these exercises alongside your doctor's or surgical team's plan. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

1. Rest

Until a diagnosis has been made, rest is recommended to relieve symptoms (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Instead of trying to move the shoulder all around, give it time to rest. Stop playing sport with it, and follow the rehabilitation advice I give you.

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Anti-inflammatory medication: until a final diagnosis is made, a doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve symptoms (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). (This medicine information comes from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)
Surgery: an operation, often done arthroscopically (through small cuts using a camera), may be recommended if non-surgical treatment hasn't worked, if symptoms come back, or after some more severe injuries. Depending on the type of tear, the surgeon may remove the torn part of the labrum, reattach the labrum to the bone, or treat the biceps tendon if the tear involves it (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Bracing: a brace is sometimes considered for people who still feel that their shoulder is unstable (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). I can help you work out whether one might help and how to get it.

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Strengthening for the rotator cuff and shoulder-blade muscles
Hands-on work for the neck, upper back and shoulder
Recovery support after surgery, within your surgical team's limits

Tips

Results from surgery are typically very good, and most people regain most of their strength and movement (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
If you do have surgery, follow the sling, exercise and activity instructions given by your surgical team. Full recovery takes several months.
Not all labral tears can be helped by surgery, especially those caused by wear and tear (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
If you think your shoulder has dislocated (for example, you cannot move your arm or the shoulder looks out of place), do not try to put it back yourself. Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital (NHS, 2026).

Treatment

My Approach

A labral tear can leave the shoulder sore, weak or feeling unstable. Your doctor decides whether you need surgery, and after surgery your surgical team sets the limits for the sling, movement and exercise. I work inside those limits, and after surgery I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment. Without surgery, many people do well with a steady exercise programme, and I can guide you through it alongside your doctor's plan.

I start by assessing how your neck, shoulder blade and shoulder move, and which movements bring on pain, catching or instability.

Settling It Down

Avoiding the movements that bring on pain or instability; for many people that's the arm out to the side and turned backwards
Work on the neck, upper back and other arm, which often tighten to protect a sore shoulder, with breathing and relaxation
Gentle lymphatic drainage after surgery to help with swelling
Keeping the elbow, wrist and neck moving, with gentle pain-free muscle holds

Rebuilding the Shoulder

Hands-on work for the shoulder muscles; armpit work only with your informed consent, and chest wall work only with your informed consent and a signed consent form
Scar work once any surgical cuts have fully healed
Gentle joint mobilisation for stiffness, but not on a shoulder that is still loose and hasn't been repaired
Strengthening for the rotator cuff and shoulder-blade muscles, building strength before range in any direction that feels unstable
Gym-based progressions and, for overhead and throwing athletes, a graded return to sport

If your shoulder comes out of place, don't try to put it back yourself: call 911 or go to the emergency room (see Tips).

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Without surgery, most people come in once or twice a week at first, then weekly, then less often as they manage more at home, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks; improvement usually builds over a few months. After surgery, visits follow your surgical team's plan, and full recovery takes several months.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Neck & Shoulder Relief

Shoulder Blade Control

Rotator Cuff Strength

Gradual Return to Sport

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Shoulder joint tear (glenoid labrum tear). OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/shoulder-joint-tear-glenoid-labrum-tear/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Rose, M.B. and Noonan, T. (2018) 'Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit in throwing athletes: current perspectives', Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 9, pp. 69–78. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S138975.
NHS (2026) Dislocated shoulder. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dislocated-shoulder/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooGlenoid Labrum Tear

What It Is

How to Spot a Labral Tear

Glenoid Labrum Tear Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Glenoid Labrum Tear

1. Rest

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Settling It Down

Rebuilding the Shoulder

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooGlenoid Labrum Tear

What It Is

How to Spot a Labral Tear

Glenoid Labrum Tear Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Glenoid Labrum Tear

1. Rest

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Settling It Down

Rebuilding the Shoulder

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Biceps Tendon Tear at the Elbow

Biceps Tendon Tear at the Shoulder

Shoulder Labral Tear

SLAP Tear (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior)

Book a session