Superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions are a common injury in athletes who participate in overhead throwing sports such as baseball, softball, water polo, and football. Existing research on SLAP tears has primarily focused on treatment methods and repair techniques, necessitating further exploration of mechanisms of injury and preventive measures. The objective of my research is to use multiple modalities at various scales of biological organization to assess the impact of repetitive motions associated with high athlete training volumes on SLAP lesion formation. Imaging has traditionally not been performed until an athlete is already experiencing symptoms and surgery is possibly necessary, but existing bioengineering models have posited that tears experience higher strains with similar loads as tear sizes increase, meaning that imaging, early diagnosis, and treatment is key in preventing injury progression. By investigating the biomechanical factors at the tissue and whole-body level that contribute to labral tears, the study findings will have important implications for injury prevention, optimization of training regimens, and the development of effective rehabilitation protocols specifically tailored for athletes engaged in overhead-throwing sports. Ultimately, this research has the potential to significantly improve the long-term health and performance outcomes of overhead-throwing athletes by providing evidence-based insights into the underlying mechanisms of SLAP tears and facilitating the implementation of targeted preventive measures.

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