Rotator Cuff Tear in Clarkson Valley, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your job tougher, but it can also hamper daily tasks writing. Our Clarkson Valley, 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.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Clarkson Valley, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Clarkson Valley, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you want. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts equip us to effectively lead you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or find out 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 each year in the United States 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. Our Clarkson Valley, 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 Clarkson Valley, 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 helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical task requiring maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, combined with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the great range of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits 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 requires 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 Clarkson Valley, 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 your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens because of overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Clarkson Valley, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your recovery.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- 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 take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and after some time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often due to rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
- Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Generally occurring with overhead activities. 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 some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-knowledgeable physical therapist can assuage symptoms and better function considerably. Our Clarkson Valley, 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 performing necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Clarkson Valley, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you suffer a specific injury. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
- Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we get older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . 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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Clarkson Valley, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder motions
- 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 Clarkson Valley, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, 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 entirely heal – or arthritis, which can cause chronic 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 swimming 400 meters.
Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be wondering what the most effective means of treatment is in Clarkson Valley, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate 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 rotator cuff tears where the tendon is completely 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 build 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:
- 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 Clarkson Valley, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of degeneration 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 in your recovery. 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 recover 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 nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
