Slap Lesion
What is it?
Superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) tears are injuries of the glenoid labrum. They involve the superior glenoid labrum, where the long head of biceps tendon inserts. They may extend into the tendon, involve the glenohumeral ligaments or extend into other quadrants of the labrum.
What is the cause?
SLAP tears can be caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, quickly lifting a heavy object or from a forceful, overhead arm motion during sports or work activity. More often, however, they result from repetitive stress on the shoulder which, over time, wears down the shoulder labrum.
Signs & Symptoms
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Sensations of painful clicking and/or popping with shoulder movement
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Loss of glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion
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Pain with overhead motions
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Loss of rotator cuff muscular strength and endurance
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Loss of scapular stabilisers muscle strength and endurance
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Inability to lie on the affected shoulder
What can we do about it?
Your physiotherapist can diagnose a suspected SLAP tear. SLAP tears are frequently graded from I to IV in severity to guide treatment.
In some cases, imaging may be recommended to confirm a tear depending on how you were injured, the severity of your symptoms, and personal circumstances. Imaging and clinical tests can help us gain a deeper understanding of what is going on.
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Physiotherapy treatment typically results in:
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Strengthening the supporting shoulder muscles.
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Improving the shoulder capsule mobility and surrounding muscle flexibility.
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A full return to activity with sports-specific conditions.
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Before considering surgical repair, physiotherapy is usually recommended as a prerequisite for most minor tears. In many cases, it can effectively help patients return to their previous activities without symptoms.