Shoulder pain is easy to dismiss, a twinge here, an ache there, until it is not. For many people, what starts as vague discomfort eventually turns out to be a torn labrum, a surprisingly common injury that can significantly affect everyday life if left unaddressed.
Whether you are an athlete, someone who works with their hands, or a person who simply reached for something at the wrong angle, understanding what causes a labral tear is the first step toward getting the right care.
What Is the Shoulder Labrum?
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder socket, the glenoid. Think of it as a gasket that deepens the socket and helps keep the ball of the upper arm bone (the humerus) securely in place. Without it, the shoulder joint would be far less stable.
The labrum also serves as an attachment point for several important ligaments and the long head of the biceps tendon, which is why a tear in this tissue can cause such a wide range of symptoms, from deep joint pain to weakness and a catching sensation in the shoulder.
Common Causes of a Torn Shoulder Labrum
Some possible causes of a torn shoulder labrum include:
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Traumatic Injury or Dislocation
The single most common cause of a labral tear is a sudden traumatic event. This event can be a fall onto an outstretched arm, a direct blow to the shoulder, or a forceful pull on the arm. Shoulder dislocations, in particular, almost always involve some degree of labral damage.
When the ball of the joint is forced out of the socket, the labrum is stretched or torn in the process. Even after the shoulder is relocated, the labral damage remains and can cause ongoing instability and pain if not properly treated.
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Repetitive Overhead Motion
Athletes and workers who perform repeated overhead movements are at significantly elevated risk of developing labral tears over time. Baseball pitchers, swimmers, tennis players, and volleyball players all place enormous rotational stress on the shoulder with every throw, stroke, or swing.
That repeated loading gradually wears down the labral tissue until it frays or tears, a pattern sometimes called a SLAP tear (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior), which affects the top portion of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches.
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Lifting Heavy Weight Incorrectly
Improper lifting technique, particularly pulling heavy objects from an awkward angle or lifting with a jerking motion, can generate enough force to tear the labrum in a single moment.
This is especially true when the arm is in a vulnerable position, such as reaching overhead or behind the body. Weightlifters and manual laborers are commonly affected by this mechanism of injury.
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Shoulder Instability
Some individuals naturally have hyperlaxity in their shoulders. With chronic shoulder instability, the labrum is under constant stress as it works harder to compensate for the lack of bony and ligamentous support.
This chronic stress on the tissue over time leads to gradual tearing and degeneration even without a single identifiable injury.
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Age-Related Degeneration
Like most soft tissue structures in the body, the labrum deteriorates with age. Cartilage becomes less elastic and resilient, and more prone to tearing from minor stresses as it ages.
Labral tears are often degenerative rather than traumatic in the older population, and are frequently associated with other age-related shoulder problems such as rotator cuff disease or osteoarthritis.
Final Thought
A torn shoulder labrum can happen to anyone, through a single accident, years of repetitive motion, or simply the passage of time. Regardless of the cause, the injury deserves proper attention. Ignoring the symptoms or pushing through the pain rarely leads anywhere good.
If your shoulder has been bothering you and something just does not feel right, consult our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mufaddal Gombera, MD, for proper evaluation. Call us today to book an appointment.
