Rotator Cuff Tear in Campbellton, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Campbellton, 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.
All of our physical therapy clinics in Campbellton and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively shepherd you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Get in touch with 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 suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Campbellton, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Campbellton, 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. As well as keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical task necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. The wide range of motion our arms and shoulders have is due to our rotator cuff working in tandem with the surrounding musculoskeletal structure of the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
The rotator cuff is vital in basically every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in order to have optimal range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Campbellton, 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
The two main 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 transpires due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Campbellton, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your treatment.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- Rotator cuff tears are caused by 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 be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day motions over time like pitching. They start with fraying and eventually tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a minor injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside 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 posture.
- Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Campbellton, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Campbellton, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Campbellton, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain a specific injury. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These can also be 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 transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to carry out a specific motion repetitively.
- Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known 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.
Aging is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff tears normally develop them through acute trauma. Campbellton, 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, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the injured 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Campbellton, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work together with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which can result in 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 lifting your grandchildren over your head or striking out the side.
Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be uncertain as to what the best means of treatment is in Campbellton, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, customized 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:
- 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
- Stroke Rehabilitation
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Campbellton, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is different, 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 recover 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 closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.













