Glenoid labrum tear
A glenoid labrum tear is an injury to the ring of cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket, leading to shoulder instability, painful catching, and reduced joint function.
What causes a labral tear?
Labral tears typically result from acute trauma or repetitive mechanical stress: Acute injury: Falling onto an outstretched arm, direct high-energy impacts to the shoulder, sudden forceful pulling, or lifting an excessively heavy object. Repetitive overuse: Chronic wear and tear from repetitive overhead motions. This is particularly prevalent in throwing athletes (such as baseball pitchers or javelin throwers), swimmers, tennis players, and weightlifters.
Common symptoms
- Deep, aching pain in the shoulder, particularly during overhead reaching or throwing motions
- Painful catching, locking, clicking, or grinding sensations within the joint
- Feelings of shoulder instability, loose joint sensation, or apprehension during certain arm positions
- Loss of shoulder strength and reduced range of movement
How is a glenoid labrum tear diagnosed?
Diagnosing a labral tear begins with a comprehensive evaluation by your consultant to test joint stability, range of movement, and localized pain points.
How is it treated?
Treatment depends on the severity and location of the tear, whether the shoulder is unstable, and your personal activity goals.
Treatment routes for glenoid labrum tear
Minor or stable tears can often be managed conservatively. Treatment includes resting the joint, avoiding aggravating overhead activities, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain management. A structured physical therapy program focuses on strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizing muscles to compensate for lost joint stability.
Recovery from a glenoid labrum tear
Protection and rest
Following an anchor repair, your arm will be supported in a protective sling to allow initial tissue healing. Focus on keeping surgical dressings clean and dry. Gentle wrist, hand, and finger exercises are encouraged to maintain circulation. Stitches are typically checked or removed around 10 to 14 days.
Controlled passive mobility
You will gradually discontinue the sling under your physiotherapist’s direction. Guided passive range-of-motion exercises begin, ensuring movement without straining the healing labrum or biceps tendon.
Active movement and initial strengthening
Active arm movements are reintroduced as comfort allows. Rehabilitation progresses to light resistance exercises targeting the rotator cuff and shoulder girdle muscles to rebuild functional stability.
Sport-specific conditioning and full clearance
Gradual reintroduction of heavy manual labor, overhead throwing drills, racquet sports, and contact training begins. Full return to competitive overhead sports typically takes 4 to 6 months post-surgery.
Working with professionals and teams
Our shoulder specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their shoulders. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Shoulder Treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
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