Rotator Cuff Tear in Crystal City, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical pursuits like sports or the physical requirements of your job more painful, but it can also impede every day activities writing. Our Crystal City, 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 Crystal City and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our considerable clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to effectively lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with a 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people each 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 painful, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Crystal City, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will develop a bespoke, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Crystal City, MO
The rotator cuff is a group 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 holding your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff permits you to raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical task necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper extremity. The wide range of motion our arms and shoulders have is due to our rotator cuff working in tandem with larger shoulder muscles and the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of:
- The supraspinatus is a relatively 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 which aids rotation and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you 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’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.
Common Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Crystal City, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- 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 injures the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive day-to-day movements over time like pitching. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
- Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.
All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can assuage symptoms and better function notably. Our Crystal City, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your neighborhood pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Crystal City, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain trauma. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to carry out a specific motion repetitively.
- Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious 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 become older. Younger people with rotator cuff tears generally sustain them through acute trauma. Crystal City, 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 feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness with certain shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
- Weakness in your shoulder
- Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm movements
- Inability to lift things you can typically lift
If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Crystal City, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and damage 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 lifting 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 asking yourself what the best means of treatment is in Crystal City, 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 a pain free life. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is wholly torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, personalized 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:
- 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 Crystal City, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable 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 design a personalized 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 heal 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 choosing the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
