As you learned in the earlier description of the shoulder anatomy, the shoulder joint is made up of three bones, the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collar bone). The upper part of the arm bone has a large ball, referred to as the “head” of the humerus, which sits in a shallow cup of the scapula called the glenoid.

The glenoid labrum is a fibrous ring that surround the shallow cup to help stabilize the large humeral head. It also serves as an attachment site for several ligaments. The labrum can be torn or injured following acute trauma such as falling on an outstretched arm, or repetitive stress injuries to the shoulder, common in athletes and throwing injuries.

Typical symptoms of glenoid labrum tear include:
• deep shoulder when raising your arm overhead
• clicking, “clunking”, popping in the shoulder
• shoulder weakness
• shoulder instability
• limited shoulder ranges of motion

Shoulder labral tears at the top of the glenoid are called SLAP lesions (superior labrum, anterior to posterior). Shoulder labral tears below the glenoid are called Bankart lesions. Shoulder labral tears can be quite serious and may require surgery. In many cases however symptoms can be controlled through conservative measures, such as physical therapy in combination with pain management. Since the labrum is cartilagenous it cannot be evaluated by x-ray, and may require alternative diagnostics, such as diagnostic ultrasound, or mri.

In most cases, labral tears can be diagnosed by a trained physical therapist through manual orthopedic testing.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a labral tear, have suffered a shoulder injury, or just have shoulder pain, let one of our trained physical therapists help you on your road to recovery.

It is important to emphasize that since it is often difficult for a patient to differentiate the source of an injury, it is imperative that you get examined by one of our trained medical doctors or physical therapists at the first sign of pain. Don’t delay… We’re on call seven days a week. If any immediate concern, give us a call and talk to one of our trained physical therapists or doctors on the phone right now.

(718) 520-8480

As I mentioned in the anatomy discussion above, the Rotator Cuff, often mistakenly referred to as the Rotator Cup, or Rotary Cuff, is made up of four muscles that together are responsible for rotating your shoulder in all directions.

Rotator Cuff injuries are often associated with sports injuries, such as throwing. It is true that rotator cuff injuries may result from high velocity activities, but you may experience injury to the rotator cuff muscles through other avenues as well. In fact, the physical therapists here at Forest Hills Medical often treat rotator cuff injuries that are related to degenerative issues such as arthritis, and arthritic spurs, poor posture, or simple weakness associated with disuse.

The cause and the nature of the rotator cuff injury of course dictates the appropriate course of physical therapy or medical treatment.

The good news is that since muscles have a very good blood supply, they often heal quickly with the appropriate course of conservative physical therapy.

The bad news is that if a rotator cuff injury is left untreated, scar tissue develops which can lead to other more serious conditions (such as frozen shoulder), and can make reversal more difficult.

Often times, rotator cuff injuries are associated with partial or complete tears, which may not respond to conservative physical therapy.

Since symptoms of partial rotator cuff tears can mimic full thickness tears, arthritis, tendonitis etc, it is important to get evaluated by a trained physical therapist ASAP. At Forest Hills Rehabilitation, our medical doctors and physical therapists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat all types of shoulder injuries, but don’t guess if this condition will get better on its own – because it probably won’t!

The medical doctors and physical therapists at Forest Hills Medical physical therapy office have been helping patients just like you recover from serious shoulder injuries, without surgery for more than 14 years.

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with a shoulder injuries, or if you suspect a rotator cuff injury, call our office today to see how our techniques can benefit you.

(718) 520-8480

As discussed in the shoulder anatomy page above, the shoulder joint is encapsulated by a mesh of fibrous bands called ligaments. When this capsule thickens, it can significantly restrict shoulder movement in all directions, and is thus termed “Frozen Shoulder”. Frozen shoulder is also associated with progressive, often times severe pain.

Frozen shoulder may come on insidiously - meaning we are not really sure why - or it may follow traumatic injury, or can even be associated with underlying systemic conditions such as diabetes.

The cause and the nature of the frozen shoulder of course dictates the appropriate course of physical therapy or medical treatment.

Since the ligaments have a very poor blood supply, healing times are prolonged and will definitely require an appropriate course of conservative physical therapy.

Deferring physical therapy or medical consult for even a couple of days may severely lengthen recovery times if at all.

Since a frozen shoulder may stem from other underlying conditions like diabetes it is imperative to get evaluated by a trained physical therapist ASAP. At Forest Hills Rehab, our medical doctors and physical therapists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat all types of shoulder injuries, but don’t guess if this condition will get better on its own – because it probably won’t!

The medical doctors and physical therapists at Forest Hills Rehabilitation have been helping patients just like you recover from serious shoulder injuries, without surgery for more than 14 years.

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with a shoulder injuries, or if you suspect a Frozen Shoulder, don’t delay! Call our office TODAY to see how our techniques can benefit you.

(718) 520-8480

As I mentioned in the anatomy discussion above, the shoulder is surrounded by the Rotator Cuff, which is made up of four muscles that together are responsible for rotating your shoulder in all directions. These muscles are all anchored to the bone by a fibrous band called a tendon.

When one or more of these tendons becomes irritated it will become swollen and painful, and is termed “Shoulder Tendonitis”.

Shoulder tendons pass through many tight spaces, cross bones and high friction areas, are pulled in many difficult directions throughout your daily activities. Overuse, disuse, trauma, poor posture, shoulder impingement and weakness are all common causes of shoulder tendonitis.

The cause and the nature of the shoulder tendonitis of course dictates the appropriate course of physical therapy or medical treatment.

The good news is that since muscles and tendons have a very good blood supply, they often heal quickly with the appropriate course of conservative physical therapy.

The bad news is that if shoulder tendonitis is left untreated, scar tissue can develop which can lead to other more serious conditions (such as frozen shoulder), and can make reversal more difficult.

Often times, shoulder tendonitis associated with partial or complete tears, which may not respond to conservative physical therapy.

Since symptoms shoulder tendonitis can present like more serious conditions such as partial shoulder muscle or shoulder tendon tears, arthritis, etc, it is important to get evaluated by a trained physical therapist ASAP. At Forest Hills Rehabilitation, our medical doctors and physical therapists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat all types of shoulder injuries, but don’t guess if this condition will get better on its own – because it probably won’t!

The medical doctors and physical therapists at our office have been helping patients just like you recover from serious shoulder injuries, without surgery for nearly two decades.

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with a shoulder injuries, or if you suspect a rotator cuff injury, call our office today to see how our techniques can benefit you.

(718) 520-8480

As I mentioned in the anatomy discussion above, the shoulder is surrounded by the Rotator Cuff, which is made up of four muscles that together are responsible for rotating your shoulder in all directions. These muscles are all anchored to the bone by a fibrous band called a tendon.

When one or more of these tendons becomes irritated it will become swollen and painful, and is termed “Shoulder Tendonitis”.

Shoulder tendons pass through many tight spaces, cross bones and high friction areas, are pulled in many difficult directions throughout your daily activities. Overuse, disuse, trauma, poor posture, shoulder impingement and weakness are all common causes of shoulder tendonitis.

The cause and the nature of the shoulder tendonitis of course dictates the appropriate course of physical therapy or medical treatment.

The good news is that since muscles and tendons have a very good blood supply, they often heal quickly with the appropriate course of conservative physical therapy.

The bad news is that if shoulder tendonitis is left untreated, scar tissue can develop which can lead to other more serious conditions (such as frozen shoulder), and can make reversal more difficult.

Often times, shoulder tendonitis associated with partial or complete tears, which may not respond to conservative physical therapy.

Since symptoms shoulder tendonitis can present like more serious conditions such as partial shoulder muscle or shoulder tendon tears, arthritis, etc, it is important to get evaluated by a trained physical therapist ASAP. At Forest Hills Rehabilitation, our medical doctors and physical therapists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat all types of shoulder injuries, but don’t guess if this condition will get better on its own – because it probably won’t!

The medical doctors and physical therapists at our office have been helping patients just like you recover from serious shoulder injuries, without surgery for nearly two decades.

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with a shoulder injuries, or if you suspect a rotator cuff injury, call our office today to see how our techniques can benefit you.

(718) 520-8480