Rotator Cuff Tear in Des Peres, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Des Peres, 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.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Des Peres, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Des Peres, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you require. Our substantial clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts permit us to effectively shepherd you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Start working with a committed 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 each year in the United States must see a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Des Peres, 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 Des Peres, 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 relatively shallow. Besides keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff helps you raise your arm and lift it over your head. For any physical task necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper limb. 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 is made up of:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and allows you to raise your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most forceful of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, 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 has balanced 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 chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Des Peres, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you recover.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- Rotator cuff tears are caused by trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like swimming. They begin 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 often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
- Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. 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 a personalized treatment plan. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-trained physical therapist can decrease symptoms and improve function remarkably. Our Des Peres, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Des Peres, 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. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
- Repetitive Activities — 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—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to carry out a certain motion over and over.
- Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we age, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can irritate 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries typically develop them through acute trauma. Des Peres, 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 generally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Trouble raising your arm
- Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
- Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
- Weakness in your shoulder
- Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
- Inability to lift things you can normally lift
If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Des Peres, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem 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 an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely heal – or arthritis, which can lead to chronic pain and damage 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 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 successful method of treatment is in Des Peres, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, customized 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:
- 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 Des Peres, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of degeneration 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 lead 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 recover from your rotator cuff tear, and we can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. Contact us today by choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
