Rotator Cuff Tear in Knob Lick, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical demands of your occupation more painful, but it can also hamper basic activities writing. Our Knob Lick, 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 get you back to full strength and mobility – free from pain. 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 Knob Lick 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 allow us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people each year in the United States must see a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are just looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Knob Lick, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will develop a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Knob Lick, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. On top of holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical task needing usage 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 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to move your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, 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 requires balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Knob Lick, 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 basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Knob Lick, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you recover.

Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:

1. Rotator cuff tears take place 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. Generally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can be caused by 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. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people not knowing that 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. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often because of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully 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-knowledgeable physical therapist can assuage symptoms and better function remarkably. Our Knob Lick, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Knob Lick, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Knob Lick, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain a blunt force injury. You may have fallen 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 referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • 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 — Proper blood flow ensures that minor injuries heal properly. When blood flow is restricted, irritation can gradually turn into a tear. 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 . After a while, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.

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 go through life. Younger people with rotator cuff tears generally sustain them through acute trauma. Knob Lick, 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to note. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Knob Lick, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work 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 an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which can result in chronic pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandchildren over your head or swimming 400 meters.

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 means of treatment is in Knob Lick, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help ameliorate the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with 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:

• 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
• Stroke Rehabilitation

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

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a personalized 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 as you leave. 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.