Nonoperative Treatment for SLAP Tears Superior labral lesions, or SLAP lesions, are common. In fact, they may be more common in asymptomatic people than we think. Surgery to repair these labral tears can often over-constrain the joint and lead to loss of motion, so it is often used as a last resort. Here are some tips for how to treat SLAP tears without surgery. | Mike Reinold | Facebook