I first started dislocating my shoulder as teenager while whitewater kayaking, and this set me off on a path which has made me very familiar with the medical management of labrum tears in the shoulder. Shoulder injuries aren’t uncommon in whitewater kayaking since the force of water & precarious positioning of the arms can easily lead to injury if you’re not careful. It’s not just paddlers though, I have a handful of friends who are runners, mountain bikers, and soccer players who have needed surgery for shoulder instability. It’s a common problem that really isn’t talked about enough. Hopefully you don’t need this article since you’ve been practicing good technique & keep your arms in the “safety box” to prevent injury. If you’ve had an injury or recurrent shoulder instability in the past, then this might be a good resource for you.