Rotator Cuff Tear in Calverton Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Calverton Park, 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Calverton Park and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively lead you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or learn 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 each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks challenging, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Calverton Park, 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 Calverton Park, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. On top of keeping your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff allows you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional task necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the synergy between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that allow us the great amount of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 thick triangle-shaped 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 together 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 most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is indispensable in almost every sort of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Calverton Park, 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 sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Calverton Park, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your recovery.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears transpire as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear wholly separates the tendon from the bone. Generally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not entirely separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like pitching. They start with fraying and after some time 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 often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

Licensed physical therapists can help you recover from any of these injuries with a personalized treatment plan. 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 Calverton Park, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Calverton Park, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience a blunt force 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. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a specific motion repetitively.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — 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 . Over time, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.

Aging is the most understood 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 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries usually sustain them through acute trauma. Calverton Park, 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 feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Calverton Park, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. 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 most successful form of treatment is in Calverton Park, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help ameliorate the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional 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 design 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:

• Shoulder Pain Treatment
• 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

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Calverton Park, 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 expert and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, 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 recover your movement health and help you recover from your rotator cuff tear, and we can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. Contact us today by picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.