Rotator Cuff Tear in Augusta, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your occupation tougher, but it can also disrupt daily activities driving a car. Our Augusta, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy caters each treatment plan specifically to each client, their injury, and their desired activity level. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Augusta, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Augusta, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts allow us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or find out more about the location most convenient for you.

A rotator cuff tear can be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people each year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Augusta, MO physical therapy team will have you high-fiving and lifting your arms again sooner than you thought possible.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Augusta, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. In addition to keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff helps you lift and rotate your arm. For any functional task needing maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, as well as the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the large scope of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to move your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

The two main causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Augusta, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you heal.

There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can happen because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive day-to-day motions over time like pitching. They start with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Augusta, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Augusta, MO softball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Augusta, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain a blunt force injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — Proper blood flow ensures that minor injuries heal properly. When blood flow is restricted, irritation can gradually turn into a tear. The rotator cuff is notorious for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — The acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of your shoulder blade, is prone to overgrowth . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Getting older is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are because of the typical wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries usually sustain them through acute trauma. Augusta, MO residents who work in certain jobs, play certain sports, or repeatedly lift heavy things or consistently move their arms overhead are also at higher risk.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more difficult to notice. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
• 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 have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Augusta, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly heal – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandchildren over your head or swimming 400 meters.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the best method of treatment is in Augusta, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, 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. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with full-thickness tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:

• Physical Therapy Clinic
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Pain Physical Therapy
• Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
• Hip Pain Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

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

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