Rotator Cuff Tear in Foristell, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your work more difficult, but it can also hinder every day tasks driving a car. 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 on your road to recovery.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Foristell, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Foristell, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you desire. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Start working with a committed 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 each year in the United States must visit a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. 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 group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. On top of helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any functional endeavor requiring usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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 relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.
Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, raise, 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 basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Foristell, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you heal.
There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears take place because 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 be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like swimming. 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.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is centered 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 the result of weakness or incorrect technique.
- Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 assuage symptoms and improve function notably. Our Foristell, 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 dominating your local pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Foristell, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear transpires when you sustain trauma. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, for example 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 movements over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to carry out a certain motion repetitively.
- 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 happen as we become 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.
Age is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are caused by the general 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 risks for Foristell, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- 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 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Foristell, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. 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 evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which can lead to chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids 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 wondering what the best form of treatment is in Foristell, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate 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 get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases 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 determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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:
- Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Post Surgical Rehabilitation
- Shin Splint Treatment
- Direct Access Physical Therapy
- Gait Analysis
- Pelvic Floor Therapy
- Dry Needling Near Me
- Tendonitis Treatment
- Manual Physical Therapy
- Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Foristell, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of wear and tear 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 successfully lead you as you heal. 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 can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. 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.
