Rotator Cuff Tear in Josephville, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation tougher, but it can also hinder daily activities like brushing your teeth. Our Josephville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a custom-made treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – pain free. 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 Josephville, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Josephville, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as motion experts equip us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. 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. More than two million people each year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have experienced a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are simply looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Josephville, 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 Josephville, 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. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical task necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and helps you lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Josephville, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your treatment.

There are three main sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears transpire because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear totally separates the tendon from the bone. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts 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 throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
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 consistently 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, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
3. Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm motions. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated effectively with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. 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 remarkably. Our Josephville, 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 swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Josephville, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear takes place when you suffer trauma. Maybe you tried 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 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—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to carry out a certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it harder for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — The acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of your shoulder blade, is prone to overgrowth . Over time, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.

Aging is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are due to the typical 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 Josephville, 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 normally cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected 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 exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Josephville, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your physician 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 method to have your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the expertise and skill to get 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 uncertain as to what the best method of treatment is in Josephville, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is totally torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional 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 implement an evidence-based, customized 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 Josephville, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because 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 lead you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design 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 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 selecting the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.