Rotator Cuff Tear in Ethlyn, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Ethlyn, 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 – 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 Ethlyn and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with a 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 every year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Ethlyn, 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 Ethlyn, MO
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. As well as keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical endeavor needing maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great range of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and allows you to elevate your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a thin muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped 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 has 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 Ethlyn, 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 overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Ethlyn, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your recovery.
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. 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 transpire as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive day-to-day motions over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people not knowing that they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- 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 because of rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
- Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Generally the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.
All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. 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 Ethlyn, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Ethlyn, MO pickleball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Ethlyn, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience trauma. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known 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 cause tendons to fray and tear. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
- 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 infamous for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we become older, and bone spurs can often 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.
Age is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are because of the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries generally sustain them through acute trauma. Ethlyn, 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 develops slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more difficult to note. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- Trouble lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, especially 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 normally lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Ethlyn, 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 method to have your shoulder examined. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the know-how 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 serving an ace.
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 Ethlyn, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is completely torn 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 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, 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:
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Ethlyn, 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 experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a personalized 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 as you leave. 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.
