Rotator Cuff Tear in Josephville, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical demands of your job tougher, but it can also hinder every day activities pouring a cup of coffee. Our Josephville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a bespoke 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Josephville and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts equip 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks painful, 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 group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. Besides holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff allows you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional endeavor necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 larger shoulder muscles and the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle behind the shoulder which aids rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is vital in basically every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced 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 main causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place because of overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Josephville, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.

There are three main sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by 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 injures the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day motions over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. 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 mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. 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 function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Josephville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily 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 classified as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain a blunt force injury. 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 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—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to carry out a specific motion repetitively.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — 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 result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we get older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts 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. Josephville, 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 feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more difficult to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Josephville, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally heal – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent 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 picking up 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 Josephville, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with full-thickness tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. 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 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:

• 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 Josephville, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is different, 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 restore your movement health and help you heal 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.