Rotator Cuff Tear in Black Jack, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Black Jack, 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 Black Jack, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Black Jack, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Begin working with a dedicated 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. More than two million people every year in the United States must visit a doctor or physical therapist due 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 Black Jack, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a tailored, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Black Jack, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. On top of keeping your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff helps you lift and rotate your arm. For any functional endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, as well as the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the great scope of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and helps you lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. 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 basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Black Jack, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you heal.

There are three main kinds of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears occur 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated effectively with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Black Jack, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Black Jack, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience trauma. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a certain motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.

Most rotator cuff tears happen to people over the age of 40 as a result of the wear and tear our bodies experience as we become older. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Black Jack, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instantaneous pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Black Jack, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids 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 means of treatment is in Black Jack, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to make an evidence-based, customized 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:

• Back Pain Treatment
• Neck Pain Treatment
• 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

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

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design 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 choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.