Rotator Cuff Tear in Florissant, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Florissant, 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Florissant 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, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or find out 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 in the United States must see a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If you have sustained 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, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Florissant, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Florissant, 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 keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff allows you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper limb. It’s the synergy between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, as well as the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great scope of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is crucial in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

The two principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Florissant, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your treatment.

There are three main sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears happen as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear wholly separates the tendon from the bone. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements 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 regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. 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 regularly happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often due to weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Normally occurring with overhead activities. 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 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-knowledgeable physical therapist can lessen symptoms and ameliorate function remarkably. Our Florissant, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Florissant, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Florissant, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be categorized as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you suffer a specific injury. Maybe you tried 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 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 cause tendons to fray and tear. This can occur 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 certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we get older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . Over time, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.

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. Younger people with rotator cuff tears typically sustain them through acute trauma. Florissant, 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, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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 have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you contact a medical professional such as the Florissant, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. 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 expertise 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 effective means of treatment is in Florissant, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help assuage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is wholly 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 implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to design 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:

• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment
• Spine Specialist Near Me
• MCL Injury
• Shoulder Pain
• Injury Prevention

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Florissant, 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 caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, 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 look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. 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.