Rotator Cuff Tear in Clearwater, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your work tougher, but it can also hinder daily activities driving a car. Our Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like you in the Clearwater, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you wish for. Our considerable clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts permit us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Start treatment with a committed 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people each year in the United States must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, 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. Besides holding your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any functional task necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm away from your body and hold 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 has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Clearwater, 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 chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires due to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Clearwater, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your treatment.
There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears are caused because 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 completely separate it from the bone. They can occur because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like throwing. They begin 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 surrounding the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
- Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Generally 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 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 Clearwater, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Clearwater, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Clearwater, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear takes place when you suffer a blunt force injury. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
- 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 well known for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we age, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . 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 go through life. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Clearwater, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- Difficulty elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness with 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 experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Clearwater, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have 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 expertise 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 asking yourself what the most successful form of treatment is in Clearwater, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help improve 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. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to make 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:
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Clearwater, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 expert and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build 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 on your way out. Contact us today by picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
