A shoulder labral tear can be an incredibly painful and debilitating injury. It is caused by the soft tissue of the shoulder joint being torn away from the socket, leading to shoulder instability and pain. While surgery is often recommended as a course of treatment, massage can also help to alleviate the symptoms associated with this injury. Let’s take a look at how massage can help treat shoulder labral tears.
What is a Shoulder Labral Tear?
A shoulder labral tear occurs when the soft tissue surrounding the shoulder joint is torn away from its socket, leading to instability and pain in the affected area. This type of injury can occur due to sudden trauma, such as a fall or accident, or due to repetitive strain from activities that require frequent arm movement. Symptoms of a labral tear include pain when lifting or moving your arm, a difficulty raising your arm above your head, and sharp pain in the affected area.
How Can Massage Help a Shoulder Labral Tear?
Massage can help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with a shoulder labral tear by increasing blood flow and promoting healing in the affected area. It also helps to reduce tension in muscles that may have been strained due to overuse or trauma, helping you regain mobility and flexibility in your arm. Massage has been shown to reduce inflammation as well, offering even more relief from symptoms caused by this condition.
When it comes to treating a shoulder labral tear specifically, there are several types of massage techniques that may be used by your registered massage therapist (RMT). These include Swedish massage (which focuses on relaxation) and deep tissue massage (which focuses on targeting deeper muscle fibers). Trigger point therapy may also be used to target specific areas where tension is concentrated in order to promote healing and improve range-of-motion in those areas.
Shoulder labral tears can be incredibly painful and debilitating injuries—but they don’t have to be permanent fixtures in our lives! With careful diagnosis and treatment through physiotherapy or massage – or both – we can manage these injuries so they no longer interfere with our daily activities or prevent us from enjoying life fully.
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment with either myself, Sam Heslip, RMT, or another RMT in Waterloo or Kitchener at CARESPACE. We are happy to listen and are here to help!
Read About Other Effective Treatments for Shoulder Labral Tears
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Labral Tears
A Comprehensive Overview of Physiotherapy for Shoulder Labral Tears
