Rotator Cuff Tear in Huntleigh, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your job tougher, but it can also hinder basic activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Huntleigh, 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 Huntleigh 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 equip us to effectively lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Begin treatment with a devoted 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 every year nationwide must see a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks painful, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Huntleigh, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a custom-made, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Huntleigh, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. As well as keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and lift it over your head. For any physical task needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate alongside 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 is made up 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 thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most forceful of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, 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 order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Huntleigh, 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 chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Huntleigh, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you recover.

There are three basic types of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear wholly separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can transpire as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily motions over time like pitching. 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.
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 overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. 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 a personalized treatment plan. 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 Huntleigh, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic daily activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Huntleigh, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain trauma. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also called 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 happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a certain motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious 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 . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Getting older is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the typical wear and tear our bodies undergo 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 Huntleigh, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always experience symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to note. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out 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 usually lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Huntleigh, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work with your physician to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can lead to 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 lifting your grandkids over your head or serving an ace.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be uncertain as to what the most successful form of treatment is in Huntleigh, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices 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 the activities you love. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is completely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed 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 design an evidence-based, tailored plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:

• 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
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

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

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to completely 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. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design 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 look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.