Blog Post

At Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, with offices conveniently located in Schertz, New Braunfels, Live Oak, and San Antonio, Texas, our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic specialists regularly diagnose and treat labral tears that disrupt lives and derail recovery. It all starts with understanding labral tears and their telltale signs.

What is the labrum?

Labral tissue lines the inside of the hip and shoulder joint sockets. It's made of cartilage, the same thick, rubbery substance that supports and protects bones, and the labrum deepens the joint socket by about 50%. 

Thanks to the labrum, highly flexible joints like the hip and shoulder stay within their sockets and can normally move smoothly without pain. When the labrum tears, it puts unusual stress on the joint, causing irritation, unusual movement patterns, and instability.

Labral tears often develop from repetitive motion, sports injuries, trauma, or gradual wear and tear. In the hip, they commonly occur from twisting or pivoting movements. In the shoulder, they often result from overhead activity or sudden force.

Labral tears: What to watch for

Labral tears don’t always cause symptoms. For example, one study showed that more than half of people who had hip labral tears show up on imaging studies didn’t have symptoms. However, when labral tears do cause symptoms, they can be highly disruptive to daily life. Common signs are:

1. A dull ache deep within the joint

A labral tear often causes a deep, hard-to-pinpoint ache. In the hip, this pain often feels like it's coming from the side of the groin. Up to 55% of people with hip or groin pain have labral tears, even if they’re not the sole cause of the pain. 

In the shoulder, discomfort may sit deep within the joint.

2. Clicking or popping sensations

Many people with labral tears experience crepitus: clicking, popping, or grinding when they move the affected joint. In some cases, the joint may catch or briefly feel stuck before moving again.

3. Joint weakness

A labral tear can cause the joint to feel unstable or weak, causing a feeling of the joint “giving out,” especially during weight-bearing or rotational movements. This is particularly common in the shoulder, but it can also affect the hip.

4. Stiffness

Stiffness is common with labral injuries. You may struggle to move the joint through its full range of motion, making everyday movements feel restricted. 

It may suddenly feel far more difficult to reach up to open a cabinet or brush your hair with a shoulder labral tear. With a hip labral tear, simple activities like climbing stairs may feel frustrating due to hip stiffness.

5. Increased discomfort after activity

Pain often worsens after activity. Hip labral tears may flare after squatting, pivoting, or twisting the leg. Shoulder labral tears often feel worse after reaching overhead, rotating the arm, or doing activities like throwing or lifting.

Certain sports can intensify symptoms. Activities that involve pivoting, cutting, or sudden direction changes can aggravate hip labral tears. Overhead and repetitive upper body movements can worsen shoulder labral injuries.

We can diagnose your hip or shoulder pain

If joint pain, stiffness, or instability continues to interfere with your daily life, it’s time for an evaluation. Our team at Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine can diagnose and treat labral tears to relieve your discomfort. Schedule an appointment at the office nearest you today.