Rotator Cuff Tear Arcadia, MO | Physical and Occupational Therapy

Rotator Cuff Tear in Arcadia, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Arcadia, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a personalized treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – free from pain. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started with healing your rotator cuff injury.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Arcadia and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Reach out to a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or discover more about the location most convenient for you.

A rotator cuff tear can either be acute — meaning it happens as the result of an injury, such as falling or lifting a heavy object — or can happen gradually because of overuse. Over two million people every year nationwide must visit a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Arcadia, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will make a bespoke, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Arcadia, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper limb. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the great amount of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:

The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and allows you to lift your arm.
The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most forceful of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is vital in nearly every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Arcadia, MO occupational and physical therapists at Axes for a free injury screening, so we can design an evidence-based plan to return you to to the activities you love.

Rotator Cuff Tear Arcadia, MO | Occupational and Physical Therapy | Sports Injury

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

The two principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Arcadia, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you as you heal.

Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:

Rotator cuff tears take place as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. The most common tear is a partial tear, which damages a tendon, while a full-thickness tear completely separates a tendon from the bone. They can take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily motions over time like throwing. They begin with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often due to weakness or incorrect technique.
Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can lessen symptoms and improve function significantly. Our Arcadia, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Arcadia, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:

Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you suffer a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
Degenerative Tears — These are also referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a certain motion over and over.
- Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we get older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.

Aging is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are the result of the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Arcadia, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always experience symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

Difficulty raising your arm
Pain or soreness with specific shoulder motions
Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
Weakness in your shoulder
Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm movements
Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you call a medical professional such as the Arcadia, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder examined. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the know-how and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandchildren over your head or serving an ace.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be wondering what the most effective method of treatment is in Arcadia, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help improve the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is entirely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to develop an evidence-based, tailored plan to get you back to the activities you love, pain-free and without the limitations of a rotator cuff tear.

We treat a wide variety of conditions and complaints and have a team of specialists ready to help you. Some of our other services are:

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Arcadia, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a tailored plan for you based on evidence and your individual needs. As your physical therapist, we work hard to help you restore your movement health and help you recover from your rotator cuff tear, and we look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.