Shoulder injuries in overhead athletes - The "dead arm" revisited

This article describes the relationship between the "dead arm" and Type II SLAP lesions. The peel-back mechanism is proposed as the cause of both inju ry and dysfunction and can be eliminated by glenoid labral repair. The auth ors find that rotator cuff repairs frequently accompany SLAP lesions, and a tight posterior-inferior capsule is a significant factor contributing to T ype II SLAP lesions. Using this approach for the repair of Type II SLAP les ions in pitchers, this study found that 84% have been able to return to the ir pre-injury levels of pitching.