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 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Kimmswick and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to effectively shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Start working with a devoted 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 each year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Kimmswick, 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 Kimmswick, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff lets you control the movement of your arm. For any functional endeavor needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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 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 helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is important in nearly every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in order to have optimal 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 principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or standard 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 rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you heal.

There are three principal 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 hurts the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements 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 often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
3. Impingement happens 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 be a precursor 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 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 reduce symptoms and ameliorate function considerably. Our Kimmswick, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Kimmswick, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

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 sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you suffer 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 known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements 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 carry out a certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body sends 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 well known 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 rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.

Aging is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are because of the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries typically sustain them through acute trauma. Kimmswick, 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 occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instantaneous pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Kimmswick, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem with your physician 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 an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly heal – or arthritis, which can lead to chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. 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 means of treatment is in Kimmswick, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help manage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with complete 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 implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to implement 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:

• 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 Kimmswick, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because 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 guide you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, 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 can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. 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.