Rotator Cuff Tear in Bismarck, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Bismarck, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a tailored 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 Bismarck 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 movement experts allow us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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 in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have experienced a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Bismarck, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Bismarck, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical task necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, as well as the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the substantial range of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is vital in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced 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 Bismarck, 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.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Bismarck, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you heal.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears happen because 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily motions over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically 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 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 Bismarck, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your neighborhood pickleball league, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Bismarck, 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 trauma. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to carry out a specific motion over and over.
  • 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 well known for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we become older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . 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; most rotator cuff tears are because of the usual wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries normally acquire them through acute trauma. Bismarck, MO residents who work in certain occupations, 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instantaneous pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to notice. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly 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 normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you contact a medical professional such as the Bismarck, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up 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 asking yourself what the best form of treatment is in Bismarck, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage 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 totally torn or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to develop an evidence-based, tailored plan to get you back to what you love doing, free from the pain and 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 Bismarck, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened 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 experienced and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a customized 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 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.