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SLAP TearSuperior Labrum Anterior to Posterior LesionThe glenohumeral joint of the rotator cuff is where the humeral head (greater tubercle) meets the shoulder socket of the scapula, called the glenoid. The labrum is a piece of cartilage (called fibrocartilage), that is similar to the meniscus in your knee, which forms a cup within the joint for the humeral head to sit in. When this fibrocartilage tears, it is called a SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tear or lesion.  This joint is considered a ball and socket joint however the 'socket' is not as deep as similar joints in your body. Instead, the humerus sits against the glenoid cavity similar to how a golf ball sits on a tee. Since the ball does not fit directly inside the socket of the glenohumeral joint, it is the labrum, tendons, and ligaments that hold the ball of the humerus against the glenoid fossa. These connective tissues provide stability between your scapula and your humerus. The labrum (also called the glenoid labrum) is a very important piece of cartilage that forms a ring around the outer edge of the shoulder socket (glenoid cavity), making the socket deeper for the humeral head to fit into. A SLAP tear, or Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior lesion, usually occurs when there is a traumatic injury to the shoulder. As the name suggests, a SLAP tear occurs at the top (superior) of the labrum running from the front (anterior) to the back (posterior) of the joint cavity. The long head of the biceps brachii tendon (also called biceps tendon) attaches inside the glenohumeral joint at the superior labrum, where a SLAP tear is located. As a result, the biceps tendon may also be damaged when a SLAP tear occurs. Injury to the labrum, or any of the other stabilizing tissues, can cause the joint to weaken, misalign and/or become unstable. This leaves the rotator cuff at further risk of injury. The tendons and bursae can become pinched, excess stress can be placed on tendons and ligaments, and/or the weakened rotator cuff does not function properly. Types of SLAP TearsWith a SLAP tear, the amount of damage to the labrum can vary. The type of tear is classified as type 1 to 4 depending on the severity of the tear, with 4 being the most severe.  Type 1Degenerative fraying, and possibly a tiny tear, of the superior labrum. The edges of the labrum become rough but it remains attached to the glenoid cavity. This is usually a result of the cartilage becoming brittle with age. Type 2The superior labrum is torn away from the glenoid cavity leaving a gap between the cartilage and the bone. The tear can occur from the biceps tendon forward (anterior), from the biceps tendon backward (posterior), or along the entire top of the labrum (anterior-posterior). Type 2 tears are the most common SLAP tears and are usually a result of an injury, such as a shoulder dislocation. Type 3A 'bucket-handle' tear at the top of the labrum which leaves a flap of cartilage loose at the top of the shoulder joint. The torn cartilage may get caught within the glenohumeral joint causing a locking, clicking, or popping feeling. Generally, you doctor will recommend arthroscopic surgery to remove the 'bucket handle' section of the tear and to reattach the remainder of the detached labrum. Type 4An extension of the SLAP tear into the biceps tendon. A Type 4 tear requires arthroscopic surgery to reattach the labrum to the glenoid cavity (SLAP repair) and suture the biceps tendon (called a biceps tenodesis). Bankart LesionThis is another type of tear to the labrum but it doesn’t occur at the superior, or top of the labrum and is therefore, not referred to as a SLAP lesion. A Bankart tear occurs to the lower, front area of the labrum and can extend upwards. It may also occur along with a Hill-Sachs lesion, which refers to a damaged humeral head, and/or a separation of the biceps tendon at the rotator cuff. Torn Labrum Symptoms Symptoms common to a SLAP tear include:
If the tear is extensive (i.e. Bankart lesion) the chance of the shoulder becoming dislocated increases. SLAP Tear CausesLike many shoulder injuries, SLAP tears are usually a result of a fall directly on the shoulder or falling on an outstretched hand. Repetitive or forceful overhead movements can also cause Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior tears. Therefore, participating in sports such as volleyball, tennis, and baseball can put you at risk. SLAP Tear TreatmentsMost Type 1 and 2 SLAP tears can be treated with none invasive therapies such as Therapeutic Ultrasound and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST®). Surgery is usually performed in the case of Type 3 and 4 tears so the torn labrum can be reattached to the glenoid cavity or other part of the labrum it was torn away from. Following surgery, the use of cold compression therapy, ultrasound therapy, and BFST® will reduce pain, inflammation, scar tissue and healing time!  The trick to healing your SLAP tear and getting your rotator cuff back in the best possible condition you can is getting it to heal with minimal scar tissue - something ultrasound therapy is great at! If you heal your SLAP tear properly and treat scar tissue build up, your chance of re-injury or chronic shoulder conditions later on is much lower than average.  There are healing tools that can help treat your SLAP tear and speed up the healing process so you can get back to a life without pain and risk of further injury. Therapeutic Ultrasound and (BFST®) will treat scar tissue and promote blood flow to heal your labrum faster and more completely than any other methods available. Freezie Wrap® Cold Compression TherapyTo decrease inflammation and relieve the pain of a SLAP tear doctor's recommend cold compression therapy. Cold compression therapy within the first 48 - 72 hours of a tear, after any strain or re-injury, or following surgery is effective at relieving pain and swelling while limiting the amount of damage done to your tissue. In addition, cold compression therapy can reduce, or even eliminate, the need for NSAIDs that affect your entire body unnecessarily.  The Shoulder Freezie Wrap® is the cold compression tool you need to treat your SLAP tear and other joint tissue in an effective and convenient way. Cold compression therapy works by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the injured area and reducing swelling that can block blood vessels. This is important because once blood vessels are blocked or damaged, they can no longer carry oxygenated blood through your labrum and tissue cells begin to break-down. Without cold compression therapy cellular break-down and tissue damage continues as the cells do not get the oxygen they need to survive. By limiting the amount of damage done to your tissue, you also limit the amount of healing that needs to occur. This is a very important step to heal your SLAP tear faster and with less pain!  The deep cooling effect provided by the Shoulder Freezie Wrap® reduces tissue damage. Furthermore, because the cold wraps gently numb the nerves, the wraps also reduce pain! The Shoulder Freezie Wrap® uses a supercharged cooling gel pack, that chills in the fridge, not in the freezer like ice or other freezer packs, giving you deep cold therapy without the risk of 'cold burns' or cryoburn. The medical-grade wrap keeps the cold directly off your skin preventing cryoburn while delivering cold right where you need it. Click here to learn more about Cold Compression Freezie Wraps® Ultrasound TherapyUltrasound therapy is a great therapeutic option to decrease inflammation, pain and soft tissue damage experienced with a SLAP tear. Therapeutic ultrasonic waves increase tissue elasticity while increasing blood flow to your torn labrum. This cleans the injured area by getting rid of damaged tissue and reducing the inflammation while opening up the blood vessels to begin healing.  Not only does ultrasound aid in the duration of healing, but it helps to prevent long term complications. Shoulder instability or dislocation, chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) are some of the more common long term complications that can occur when SLAP tears go untreated. By treating your labrum and glenohumeral joint with ultrasound, scar tissue becomes softer and the labrum and other tissue becomes stronger reducing the risk of chronic problems in the future. During the healing process, scar tissue builds at the location of the tear. In addition, scar tissue can also bind the labrum, ligaments and other tissue together within the joint capsule and surrounding the rotator cuff. The inflexible scar tissue limits the movement of these connective tissues that were once elastic and allowed the shoulder its stability and large range of motion. As a result, movement of the entire joint is limited making it difficult to lift your arm or to reach for objects. If left untreated, the shoulder may 'freeze' (a condition called frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis) altogether making movement impossible. At the very least, scar tissue leaves your shoulder joint weaker, leaving your shoulder and rotator cuff at greater risk of further injury.  Fortunately, you can treat your SLAP tear with MendMeShop® Ultrasound to soften scar tissue and improve the motion and flexibility of your shoulder. Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.  MendMeShop® ultrasound therapy with phonophoresis is safe, convenient, and easy and generally requires between 10-15 minutes per treatment. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send micro vibrations into your body and carry medicated molecules within the ultrasound gel deep into your soft tissue to enhance the ultrasound therapy, resulting in even healthier tissue. Ultrasound waves penetrate deep to relax your muscles, decrease inflammation and accelerate your recovery rate, so you can return to your daily activities as soon as possible. Using MendMeShop® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel during your ultrasound therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into your labrum where it is most effective. 1 FREE bottle of MendMeShop® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes with every MendMeShop® Ultrasound Therapy System and it contains the therapeutic essential oils of natural Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol. Click here to learn more about Ultrasound Therapy Once the inflammation of your SLAP tear has been reduced, nourishing and strengthening the labrum and surrounding tissue is recommended. Using Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy will speed your recovery and heal your glenohumeral joint more completely preparing it for strengthening exercises. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to find out which exercises are appropriate for your situation. Inferno Wrap® Blood Flow Stimulation TherapyAfter severe inflammation and swelling is reduced you can begin to treat your shoulder with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST®). BFST® increases the amount of blood that flows naturally to your shoulder to nourish your labrum to speed healing.  The glenohumeral joint naturally receives a limited blood supply and when you stop moving your shoulder because it hurts the blood flow is reduced even further, limiting your body's natural ability to heal itself. By treating the area of your rotator cuff with BFST® you can increase your body's blood supply to the shoulder and increase your body's natural healing power. An Inferno Wrap® is the tool you need to treat your sore shoulder because it speeds healing and relaxes the surrounding muscles. With BFST®, tissues are safely and gently stimulated. Your body responds with a rapid increase in blood flow to the area, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to injured tissue cells to promote healing. Our Shoulder Inferno Wraps® provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects. In addition, the improved blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from your SLAP tear. When you stop moving your arm and shoulder due to shoulder pain, your muscles and other tissue can become weaker and dead cells and toxins in the area can cause further tissue deterioration - this can lead to atrophy. By clearing the area of toxins and increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients to your labrum and other tissue, the risk of atrophy (muscle weakness and/or deterioration) is greatly reduced. Keeping your upper arm, shoulder joint and rotator cuff tissue as healthy as possible throughout the healing process will allow you to improve shoulder strength again once your pain has gone and your SLAP tear has healed. Click here to learn more about how BFST® and Inferno Wraps® work.  With these 3 easy therapies, cold compression, ultrasound and BFST®, you will notice significantly reduced pain, faster healing, and an incredible improvement in your rotator cuff range of motion. Remember: We recommend that you consult your doctor and/or physiotherapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they're right for you and your condition. Surgical TreatmentsA surgical SLAP repair may be required to shave the frayed edge of the labrum, reattach the labrum to the glenoid cavity, remove the 'bucket handle' portion, and/or suture the torn labrum. Depending on the location of the tear, a tiny hole may be drilled in the bone to suture the cartilage to the bone, or the labrum (and/or biceps tendon) may be sutured back together. With any shoulder pain, it is recommended that you see your doctor for a proper diagnosis as there are many injuries and conditions that could be the cause of your pain. An MRI will help your doctor determine what damage has been done, the proper treatments, whether surgery is necessary, and which procedure will be performed. During your recovery, you may have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your shoulder joint until your pain and inflammation settle, and you gain more mobility and strength in your shoulder. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!
| Rotator Cuff Injury Facts: The term "rotator cuff" refers to a group of four tendons that attach four shoulder muscles to the upper arm bone. About 6 million people in the U.S. seek medical care each year for shoulder problems. The shoulder joint has the widest range of motion of all joints in the body. Ultrasound Therapy can speed rotator cuff injury recovery significantly. Continual repetitive use of the injured rotator cuff will lead to a worse injury. Although the rotator cuff can tear suddenly as a result of a serious injury, most rotator cuff problems develop over time. Dear MendMeShop, Paul, The things I ordered from you seem to help and I am glad to have them. It has been really hot weather here so I don't use it as often as I should but it has relaxed the shoulder and I have a lot more movement. Thanks for your help, you speak the truth. I am telling others of your products. Rating: Gene Peterson  Dear MendMeShop, I am a 44 year-old woman in good health. I eat a fresh diet and take high-quality supplements, including MSM, glucosamine, Zyflamend, and all the usual joint-recomended supplements. I injured both knees two years ago while kneeling to tile my family room and entry. Subsequently, a simple twisting squat ripped my left meniscus with a huge bucket tear that required surgery to trim so it wouldn't keep catching and re-tearing. I am not one to undergo surgery unless it is unavoidable, and even after a "simple" scope operation, it took me a full year to get full extension back on that knee, and I doubt I will ever be able to squat again. I run a cleaning business. A couple of months ago an employee had forgotten to return equipment to my van, and I had to mop some hardwood flooring for a client on my hands and knees. That simple ten-minute job put me back out of commission. The kneeling pre-injured the area, and when I stepped back onto my good leg two days later, I felt that familiar burn of a fresh meniscus tear. I was heartsick, dreading another surgery and the attendant expense, pain, and down time. I know from my previous experience that cartilage is hard to heal because of the poor blood supply, especially to the center. I knew it was just a matter of time before I tore it further. (My dad had multiple knee scopes before finally getting a replacement, but I was not going down that path if I could help it!) I got online and researched alternatives that would get me back on my feet. Delighted to discover Mend Me Shop and their professional athletic healing devices, I ordered the Inferno Wrap, Ice Wrap, and Ultrasound immediately. $400 would be a pittance relative to the $13,000 it costs to repair a torn meniscus (and that doesn't include rehab and lost income). During the week it took the package to arrive, I stayed off my feet as much as possible and iced the injured knee several times a day. My big hope was simply to avoid tearing the cartilage further before the stuff came. (With my surgery knee, I had re-torn it repeatedly before surgery.) The minute that I put that Inferno wrap around my bad knee, I was in love! The penetrating warmth felt amazing. I kept it by my desk and strapped it on when I would sit and work at the computer. The ultrasound I believed in because of the help it gave me in therapy for a shoulder injury, and this US device worked just like the one used on me in therapy. Every time I used it before bed, I awoke feeling so good I had to remind myself I had an injury and to be careful. And I kept icing the knee. Within two weeks I was walking evenly on both legs, if gingerly lest I inadvertently twist or bounce. But I was definitely healing. I didn't miss any work after the first week, though I moved more slowly than usual and occasionally felt that piercing reminder of the tear. I had to lie down and elevate my knee every two hours to get through the day, but it was slowly healing. Four weeks later I was feeling so good, and the day was so sunny, that I went skipping off the front porch and was reminded I have a torn meniscus! And so it goes to this day, some six weeks later: the injury is there, but it is gradually improving. The more I use the therapy devices, the faster it improves. The more I get lazy and feel perfect and neglect them, the more I slow down. But I work a full schedule without breaks and only occasionally am reminded of the injury. By God's grace and with many thanks to Mend Me Shop, I have avoided surgery! I have to say, too, how much the whole family has made use of the ultrasound unit. I have used it on my bad shoulder, wrists, my daughter's scapula -- whatever needs healing. It brings instant relief that lasts a good 24 hours. I love having in-home access to this equipment. It payed for itself in only three or four uses and will serve us well for years to come with our active lifestyles. A single ten-minute session with the physical therapist costs $180 ($50 out of pocket) -- and that is if she decides to treat that way and the doctor continues to prescribe treatment! I so prefer to take charge of my own health. Gratefully yours, Debbie Morgan Rating: Debbie Morgan Dear MendMeShop, I have arthritis and bursitis in my left knee. I am allergic to IB Profin. I had my last of 3 cortisone injections last December and it really didn't help at all. I found MendMeShop thru a search on the internet and was skeptical. I purchased the Ultrasound Therapy System and I couldn't believe it but after the first treatment, I felt a difference. I wasn't able to use it 3 times a day per the instructions so it took a little longer then I wanted. Now, it's been about 4 months and my knee is about 90% better! I used in on my 90 year old mom's frozen shoulder and it also feels much better. THIS PRODUCT WORKS. THANKS MENDMESHOP! Rating: Nancy May          |
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The terms Inferno Wrap®, Freezie Wrap® and MendMeShop® are registered trademarks of In.Genu Design Group Inc. The terms ColdCure®, Energy Web®, and BFST® are registered trademarks of King Brand Healthcare Products Ltd. |