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 injury and dysfunction and can be eliminated by glenoid labral repair. The authors find that rotator cuff repairs frequently accompany SLAP lesions, and a tight posterior-inferior capsule is a significant factor contributing to Type II SLAP lesions. Using this approach for the repair of Type II SLAP lesions in pitchers, this study found that 84% have been able to return to their pre-injury levels of pitching.