Rotator Cuff Tear in Fenton, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your work tougher, but it can also affect daily activities writing. Our Fenton, 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 on your road to recovery.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Fenton, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Fenton, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you want. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as movement experts permit 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 every year nationwide 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 enduring and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Fenton, 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 Fenton, 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. On top of keeping your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff lets you control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift 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 the surrounding musculoskeletal structure of the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of:
- 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 on the back of the shoulder which helps 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 away from your body and hold 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 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 has equal strength and control in order to have optimal range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Fenton, 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 acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Fenton, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your treatment.
There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears happen as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely separates the tendon from the bone. Generally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day motions over time like swimming. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy regularly 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 surrounding the shoulder.
- Impingement transpires 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 later lead 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 movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Fenton, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic daily tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Fenton, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience a specific injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something too heavy. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to carry out a certain motion repeatedly.
- Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, making it harder for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. 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 . Over time, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.
Aging is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are due to the general wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries usually develop them through acute trauma. Fenton, 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty raising your arm
- Pain or soreness with certain shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
- Weakness in your shoulder
- Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm motions
- Inability to lift things you can typically lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Fenton, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis 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 cause permanent pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up your grandchildren over your head or striking out the side.
Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the most successful method of treatment is in Fenton, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help assuage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is entirely torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to make an evidence-based, tailored plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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:
- 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
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Fenton, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design 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 look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
