Rotator Cuff Tear in Cedar Hill, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Cedar Hill, 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 Cedar Hill, MO and Missouri is run 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 health you want. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as movement experts allow us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff injury 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people each year in the United States must see a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are just looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, 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 create 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 holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any functional activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great range of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and allows you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to move your arm outward 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 towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is important in almost every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs owing to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Cedar Hill, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.

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. 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 repetitive day-to-day motions over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can regularly 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. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Usually 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 some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can lessen symptoms and better function considerably. Our Cedar Hill, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Cedar Hill, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience 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 are also referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to perform a specific motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause 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.

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. Younger people with rotator cuff tears typically 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 exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more difficult to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain shoulder motions
• 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 have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you contact a medical professional such as the Cedar Hill, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting 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 totally heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to get 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 wondering what the most successful form of treatment is in Cedar Hill, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to design 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 Cedar Hill, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a customized 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 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.