What causes a SLAP tear?
A SLAP tear can be caused by many different ways. The most common cause is a fall or some other sort of injury to the shoulder. Some patients fall landing directly on their shoulder or others fall on their outstretched hand. Another cause of SLAP tears is repetitive overhead activities seen in tennis players, baseball players, volleyball players or other overhead athletes. Some patients can recall a specific injury while others cannot. What is the most common complaint? The most common complaint is pain. In addition, over half the patients with SLAP tears will also complain of painful clicking and popping. SLAP tears are often seen with in combination with other shoulder problems which makes it difficult to diagnose.. How is a SLAP tear diagnosed? With any shoulder problem, the first step in diagnosing a SLAP tear is to get a complete history and physical examination from a qualified shoulder surgeon. X-rays are also taken and if the symptoms warrant, an MRI is also done. A regular MRI
