Rotator Cuff Tear in Foristell, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your occupation more difficult, but it can also affect basic activities like brushing your teeth. Our Foristell, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Foristell, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Foristell, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you desire. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Begin working with a dedicated 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people each year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks painful, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Foristell, 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 Foristell, 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 helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical endeavor necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the great scope of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately 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 which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is important in basically every sort of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Foristell, 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 occur when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Foristell, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you recover.

There are three basic sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears occur as a result 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 occur as a result of 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), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain 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, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
3. Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. Typically occurring with overhead activities. 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 a personalized treatment plan. 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 assuage symptoms and improve function significantly. Our Foristell, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Foristell, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience trauma. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, 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 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 repetitively.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age 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 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.

Aging is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the usual wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Foristell, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing specific 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 movements
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you call a medical professional such as the Foristell, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your doctor to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early examination 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 cause chronic pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising 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 asking yourself what the best method of treatment is in Foristell, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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 injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert 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 create 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:

• 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 Foristell, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert 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 customized 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 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.