Rotator Cuff Tear in Crestwood, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Crestwood, 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Crestwood and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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. Over two million people every year in the United States must visit a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Crestwood, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a tailored, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Crestwood, 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 keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff lets you control the movement of your arm. For any functional endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. It’s the synergy between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, as well as the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the great amount of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Crestwood, 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 transpire when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Crestwood, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your recovery.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused 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 be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily motions over time like swimming. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
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 surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often due to rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. 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 safe and effective treatment. 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 significantly. Our Crestwood, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your local pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing basic everyday activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Crestwood, 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 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 motions 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 infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we get older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can rub against 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 Crestwood, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

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

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you call a medical professional such as the Crestwood, 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 evaluated. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and harm 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 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 effective method of treatment is in Crestwood, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. 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 completely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to design an evidence-based, tailored 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:

• 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 Crestwood, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional 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 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 look forward to seeing 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.