Rotator Cuff Tear in Cedar Hill, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical requirements of your work harder, but it can also hamper basic tasks reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Cedar Hill, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a custom-made 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 on your road to recovery.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Cedar Hill, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Cedar Hill, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you want. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Reach out to 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people each year in the United States must see a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in 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 Cedar Hill, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Cedar Hill, 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 helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff lets you lift and rotate your arm. For any physical activity necessitating usage 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 extremity. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, along with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the large scope of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and allows you to raise your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows 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 optimal range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Cedar Hill, 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 basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Cedar Hill, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you heal.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears transpire 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 day-to-day 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. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
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 just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement happens 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 later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as 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 Cedar Hill, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Cedar Hill, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience a blunt force injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can take place 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 certain 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 infamous 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, causing 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 go through life. Younger people with rotator cuff tears frequently develop them through acute trauma. Cedar Hill, 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 typically cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly 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 have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Cedar Hill, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder examined. 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 lead to chronic pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising 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 means of treatment is in Cedar Hill, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help manage 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. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is wholly torn or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to implement an evidence-based, customized 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:

• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment

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

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of degeneration 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 successfully shepherd you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create 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 on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.