Rotator Cuff Tear in Crestwood, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical pursuits like sports or the physical demands of your job more difficult, but it can also impede daily tasks driving a car. Our Crestwood, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a tailored treatment plan that will safely get you back 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 Crestwood, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Crestwood, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you require. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts equip us to effectively shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Reach out to a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or discover 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 every year nationwide 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 simply looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Crestwood, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will build a personalized, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Crestwood, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and lift it above your head. For any functional activity needing maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper limb. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, as well as the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great scope of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and helps you lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is essential in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

The two chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Crestwood, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your treatment.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears occur 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 every day movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people not knowing that they have them. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 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 Crestwood, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Crestwood, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear transpires when you suffer 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 Activities — 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, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become 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, leading 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. Younger people with rotator cuff tears normally develop them through acute trauma. Crestwood, MO residents who work in certain jobs, 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 show symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to note. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder movements
• 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 certain arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Crestwood, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work together 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 evaluation 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 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 lifting 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 uncertain as to what the most effective method of treatment is in Crestwood, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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 with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed 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 design an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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:

• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Post Surgical Rehabilitation
• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Crestwood, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a tailored plan for you based on evidence and your individual needs. As your physical therapist, we work hard to help you restore 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.