Rotator Cuff Tear in Gilmore, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation more difficult, but it can also hamper every day activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Gilmore, 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 Gilmore, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Gilmore, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you want. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts permit us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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 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 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, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Gilmore, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will build a personalized, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Gilmore, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. On top of keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper extremity. 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 contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and allows you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, 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 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 Gilmore, 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 main causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration takes place owing to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Gilmore, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your recovery.

There are three principal 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 entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not entirely separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive every day motions over time like swimming. They start with fraying and after some time tear. 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 inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often due to weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated effectively with conservative treatment like physical therapy. 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 Gilmore, 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 owning your local pickleball league, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Gilmore, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain trauma. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. 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. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — 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 well known for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we become older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . 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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Gilmore, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you call a medical professional such as the Gilmore, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, 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 entirely heal – or arthritis, which can cause 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 lifting 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 wondering what the most successful means of treatment is in Gilmore, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with complete tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to build an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:

• Shoulder Pain Treatment
• 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

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Gilmore, 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 experienced and caring 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 create a tailored 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 recover 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.