Rotator Cuff Tear in Earth City, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Earth City, 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 get you back to full strength and mobility – without any pain. 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 Earth City and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our substantial clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Get in touch with 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. Over two million people each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have sustained 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, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Earth City, 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 Earth City, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps 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 lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body 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 allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Earth City, 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

The two basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place owing to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Earth City, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears take place as a result 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 daily motions over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and in time tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement occurs 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 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 significantly. Our Earth 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 swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Earth City, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear occurs when you suffer a specific injury. You may have fallen 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 referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a specific motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, making it 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 age, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Getting older is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are caused by the standard wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Earth City, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain shoulder movements
• 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 specific arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Earth City, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which can result in 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 picking up 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 Earth City, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help manage 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 reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to create an evidence-based, tailored 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 Earth 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 compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a personalized 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 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.