Rotator Cuff Tear in Ferguson, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Ferguson, 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 return you to full strength and mobility – free from pain. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Ferguson 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 practices, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Start treatment with a dedicated 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 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 lasting and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Ferguson, 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 Ferguson, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. Besides keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional task needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper extremity. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the large scope of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is crucial in basically every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced 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 Ferguson, 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 acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Ferguson, 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 occur because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear totally separates the tendon from the bone. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not entirely separate it from the bone. They can happen as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day motions over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles in the shoulder.
3. 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 prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

Licensed physical therapists can help you recover from any of these injuries with safe and effective treatment. 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 better function significantly. Our Ferguson, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Ferguson, MO softball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Ferguson, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, like 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 Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements 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 occupation requires you to carry out a certain motion repetitively.
  • 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 lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous 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 become older. Younger people with rotator cuff tears typically sustain them through acute trauma. Ferguson, MO residents who work in certain occupations, 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 show symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Ferguson, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can result in chronic pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting your grandkids 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 most successful form of treatment is in Ferguson, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is entirely torn 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 implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to create an evidence-based, customized 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 Ferguson, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is unique, 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 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.