Rotator Cuff Tear in Ellisville, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Ellisville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a tailored treatment plan that will safely get you back to full strength and mobility – free from 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 Ellisville and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts permit us to successfully 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 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. More than two million people every year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for enduring and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Ellisville, 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 Ellisville, MO
The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. As well as holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any functional activity requiring usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles 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 relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which aids rotation and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
The rotator cuff is key in almost every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Ellisville, 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 transpire when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Ellisville, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your treatment.
There are three principal kinds of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears transpire 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 daily motions over time like pitching. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people not knowing that they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is located 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 rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
- Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain 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 individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Ellisville, 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 conducting basic everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Ellisville, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be classified as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear takes place when you sustain a specific injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example 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 motions 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 — As we get older our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious 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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Ellisville, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always show symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to note. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- 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 certain arm motions
- Inability to lift things you can typically lift
If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Ellisville, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work together with your physician to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. 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 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 best method of treatment is in Ellisville, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with 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:
- Back Pain Treatment
- 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
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Ellisville, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build 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 heal 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 picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
