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 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 Dardenne Prairie and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Begin treatment with a devoted 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 nationwide must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Dardenne Prairie, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will build a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Dardenne Prairie, 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 helps you lift and rotate your arm. For any functional activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in concert 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, more powerful muscles, as well as the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that allow us the great range of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and allows you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to move your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, 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 correctly rotate, elevate, 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place because of overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Dardenne Prairie, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you heal.

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. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Usually, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like swimming. They start with fraying and after some time tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people not knowing that they have them. A small injury can frequently 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. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. 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 develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Dardenne Prairie, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Dardenne Prairie, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience trauma. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to carry out a certain motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — 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 — 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 become older. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries typically acquire them through acute trauma. Dardenne Prairie, MO residents who work in certain occupations, 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, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Dardenne Prairie, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. 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 a simple, cost-effective means of having 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 completely heal – or arthritis, which can lead to chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids 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 wondering what the most successful form of treatment is in Dardenne Prairie, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is totally torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. 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 alongside you to implement an evidence-based, personalized 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 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 fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and compassionate 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 create a tailored 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 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.