Rotator Cuff Tear in Horine, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Horine, 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Horine and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our considerable clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts permit us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Reach out to 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 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. More than two million people every year in the United States 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. We are the leading physical therapy team in Horine, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Horine, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. On top of helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any functional task necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift 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 consists of:

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 deep triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in concert with 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 largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is important in almost every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Horine, 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 gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration occurs owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Horine, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to guide you as you heal.

Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like throwing. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles in the shoulder.
3. Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Generally the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. 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 significantly. Our Horine, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing basic everyday activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Horine, 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 attempted 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 can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. 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 often 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries typically acquire them through acute trauma. Horine, 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Horine, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert 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 method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which can result in permanent pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up 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 effective means of treatment is in Horine, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help ameliorate 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 reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with full-thickness tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to make 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:

• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
• Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
• Migraine Relief
• Sprain and Strain Treatment
• Geriatric Physical Therapy
• Injury Rehabilitation
• Pain Management Services
• TMJ Treatment
• Herniated Disc Treatment

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Horine, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured 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 knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a customized 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 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.