Labrum simply means “lip”, and refers to a ring of cartilage around the edge of a joint. It serves the purpose of providing stability to a joint, but it can be torn, causing discomfort and reduced movement.
Symptoms of a Labrum Tear
Symptoms often begin after a traumatic onset, such as a fall. However, the onset can be more subtle, such as catching a jumping child.
Pain and loss of movement can be unpredictable. This might be a sign that the cartilage is able to flap out of place and back again. Treatments to encourage movement can sometimes allow the cartilage to move back to where it should be, but this is only part of the solution. The exact ranges of movement lost will depend on the details of the tear.
Alongside the joint problem itself, the local musculature may tighten up to try and protect the area. When the shoulder is involved, this can lead to tightness in the neck and may cause headaches. Unfortunately, this reaction can cause further reductions in movement.
The Hip and Shoulder
The two most common joints we see in clinic with labrum tears are the hip and shoulder. These are both ball and socket joints, but are quite different. The shoulder joint is shallow, allowing for plenty of movement. However, this puts more demand on the labrum to keep the joint stable, and may make it more prone to injury.
The hip is a much deeper joint, so it is inherently more stable than the shoulder. However it is a load bearing joint, handling impact from the legs and the weight of the body.
Other joints have alternative ways of keeping stable. The main joint of the knee is a hinge joint, which is much less secure than a ball and socket. Rather than a labrum round the edge, it has two small C-shaped pieces of cartilage within the joint. These are the menisci, and they can also be torn by injury and behave similarly to a torn labrum.
Managing Labrum Tears
Like arthritis, this is an injury of cartilage. The blood supply is poor, and healing with rely on adequate movement through the joint. Therefore it is not recommended to immobilise the shoulder for extended periods. Not only does this limit the nutrition provided to the cartilage, but it is also associated with developing frozen shoulder.
Your osteopath will work to increase your movement during treatment sessions, and give you exercises to keep that movement between appointments. As your pain decreases, and mobility improves, we can revisit the exercises to further improve your condition.
In more complex cases, it may be appropriate to refer you back to your GP. If the cartilage seems to have moved and is blocking movement severely, it may be best to move on from conservative treatment. However, we will endeavour to manage your pain quickly and non-invasively wherever possible, including while waiting for further treatment where appropriate.
