Rotator Cuff Tear in Dardenne Prairie, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Dardenne Prairie, 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Dardenne Prairie and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our considerable clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people every year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks challenging, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Dardenne Prairie, 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor requiring use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper extremity. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the substantial range of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of:

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 on the back of 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 outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most forceful of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is important in almost every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced 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 Dardenne Prairie, 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Dardenne Prairie, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide 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 repeating day-to-day motions over time like swimming. They start with fraying and after some time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Dardenne Prairie, 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 experience trauma. 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 infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — The acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of your shoulder blade, is prone to overgrowth . 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries generally develop them through acute trauma. Dardenne Prairie, 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 a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble lifting 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
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Dardenne Prairie, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor 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 evaluated. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely heal – or arthritis, which can result in permanent pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids 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 wondering what the most effective form of treatment is in Dardenne Prairie, MO. In the majority of cases, 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 receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is wholly torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to implement an evidence-based, personalized 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:

• 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 Dardenne Prairie, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, 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 restore 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 on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.