The labrum is a rim of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket. A labral tear is damage to this rim, and a SLAP tear is one at the top of the socket where the biceps tendon attaches. Tears can follow a fall, a dislocation or repeated overhead sport, and they are also a common finding on scans of people with no shoulder pain, so a scan result needs to be matched with your symptoms.
Also known as SLAP tear, SLAP lesion, superior labral tear, glenoid labrum tear
Symptoms
- A deep ache inside the shoulder that is hard to pinpoint
- Pain with overhead movements, throwing or lifting
- Clicking, catching or locking in the joint
- A feeling that the shoulder is weak or unstable
- Loss of power or speed when throwing or serving
- Pain at night in some people
Causes and risk factors
- A fall onto an outstretched arm or directly onto the shoulder
- A shoulder dislocation
- A sudden pull on the arm, such as when catching a heavy object
- Repeated overhead sport, such as throwing, tennis, swimming or volleyball
- Age-related wear of the labrum from around the age of 40
What the evidence says helps
- Scan findings need careful interpretation. Because tears are so common in people without pain, a tear on MRI in middle age may be a normal age-related finding.1
- Rehabilitation is a reasonable first step. In one study of people with a SLAP tear, exercise-based treatment improved pain, function and quality of life in those who completed it, and about half did not go on to surgery.3
- Overhead athletes found it harder: among those managed without surgery, about two-thirds returned to their previous level of sport.3
- In a randomised trial of surgery for one common type of SLAP tear, neither repairing the labrum nor re-anchoring the biceps tendon gave a better result than sham (placebo) surgery.2
- Tears that happen with a dislocation in young, active people are a different situation, and a specialist opinion is usually advised because of the risk of further dislocations.
Things you can try at home
- Ease off the movements that reproduce the pain, such as throwing or heavy overhead lifting, for a few weeks
- Keep the shoulder moving within comfort
- Work on shoulder blade and rotator cuff strength, ideally with guidance
- Return to overhead sport in stages, starting with lower effort and volume
- Do not judge the problem by the scan report alone: discuss what it means with a clinician
When to get urgent help
Contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency if you have:
- Shoulder or arm pain with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or pain in the jaw: call 999
- A shoulder that looks deformed or cannot be moved after a fall or injury: go to A&E
- A hot, red, swollen shoulder with a fever or feeling unwell: get same-day medical help
- Constant pain that is worse at night, with unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer: see your GP
- A shoulder that keeps slipping out of joint, or numbness or weakness in the arm after an injury: see a GP or minor injuries unit promptly
How Apollo can help
We examine your shoulder and compare the findings with your symptoms and any scan results, so you understand how much the tear is likely to matter. For most people we start with a structured programme for the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, with changes to training and work while it settles. We can test shoulder strength to guide your return to sport. If the shoulder is unstable or you are not improving after a good trial of rehabilitation, we refer you for a specialist opinion, and we provide rehabilitation after surgery.
No GP referral needed. Clinics in Sheringham, Coltishall and Norwich.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Do I need surgery for a labral tear?
Often not. Many people improve with rehabilitation, and a trial of surgery for one common type of SLAP tear found no advantage over placebo surgery. Surgery is more often considered after a dislocation in a young, active person or when good rehabilitation has not worked.
My scan shows a labral tear. Is that the cause of my pain?
Not necessarily. Labral tears are found on scans in more than half of middle-aged people with no shoulder pain. A clinician needs to check whether your symptoms and examination match the scan before blaming the tear.
Can I keep playing sport with a labral tear?
Many people can, with changes to training while the shoulder settles and a strengthening programme. Overhead and throwing sports are the most demanding, and a staged return guided by a clinician gives the best chance of getting back to your previous level.
References
- Schwartzberg R, Reuss BL, Burkhart BG, Butterfield M, Wu JY, McLean KW (2016). High Prevalence of Superior Labral Tears Diagnosed by MRI in Middle-Aged Patients With Asymptomatic Shoulders. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 4. View source
- Schrøder CP, Skare Ø, Reikerås O, Mowinckel P, Brox JI (2017). Sham surgery versus labral repair or biceps tenodesis for type II SLAP lesions of the shoulder: a three-armed randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine 51:1759-1766. View source
- Edwards SL, et al. (2010). Nonoperative Treatment of Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior Tears. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 38:1456-1461. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or a registered healthcare professional. Content prepared from the sources above, November 2026.
