Rotator Cuff Tear in Kimmswick, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Kimmswick, 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 – without any pain. 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 Kimmswick, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Kimmswick, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. Get in touch with 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. Over two million people every 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 challenging, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Kimmswick, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will develop a bespoke, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Kimmswick, 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. As well as holding your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any functional task needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function together 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:
- The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most forceful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.
The rotator cuff is essential in almost every kind of shoulder movement. 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 Kimmswick, 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 take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Kimmswick, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your treatment.
There are three main types of rotator cuff injuries:
- 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. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can happen as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive day-to-day motions over time like swimming. They start with fraying and in time tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently 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.
- Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. 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 safe and effective treatment. 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 assuage symptoms and better function notably. Our Kimmswick, 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 performing necessary everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Kimmswick, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you suffer a blunt force injury. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
- Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements 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 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 lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — The acromion, the bony tip on the outer edge of your shoulder blade, is prone to overgrowth . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.
Age is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are the result of the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to 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 Kimmswick, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty raising your arm
- Pain or soreness with specific 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 usually lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Kimmswick, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have 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 will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the know-how and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandchildren 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 asking yourself what the most successful form of treatment is in Kimmswick, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. 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 build an evidence-based, tailored 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:
- 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
- Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Kimmswick, 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 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 create 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 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.
