Rotator Cuff Tear in Cottleville, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical requirements of your job more painful, but it can also affect every day activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Cottleville, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Cottleville, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to helping individuals like you in the Cottleville, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you want. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Start treatment with a committed 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 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 each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are just looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Cottleville, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Cottleville, 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. On top of holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff helps you lift and rotate your arm. For any physical task needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate alongside 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, as well as the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the substantial amount of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is fundamental in nearly every sort 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 Cottleville, 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 acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Cottleville, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.

There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears take place because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They start with fraying and in time 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), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. 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 some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-trained physical therapist can reduce symptoms and improve function remarkably. Our Cottleville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Cottleville, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience a blunt force injury. Maybe you fell 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 called chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — 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 Flow — 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 often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Aging is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are due to the usual wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Cottleville, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instantaneous pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more difficult to note. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Cottleville, 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. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. 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 recover from – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise 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 best form of treatment is in Cottleville, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional 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, customized plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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 Cottleville, 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 caring 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 create 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 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.