Rotator Cuff Tear in Labarque Creek, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your work more difficult, but it can also impede basic activities writing. Our Labarque Creek, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a tailored 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 Labarque Creek, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Labarque Creek, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you desire. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Start working with a dedicated 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 must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Labarque Creek, 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 Labarque Creek, 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. As well as keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any functional activity needing maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper limb. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, as well as the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great amount of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and helps you elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is essential in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Labarque Creek, 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 happen when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Labarque Creek, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you recover.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears happen because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not entirely 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 swimming. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. 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 in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Normally occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead 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 an experienced physical therapist can reduce symptoms and better function considerably. Our Labarque Creek, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your neighborhood pickleball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Labarque Creek, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear transpires when you sustain trauma. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called 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 occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a specific motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is 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 — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Over time, the bone can irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing 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 become older. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Labarque Creek, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Labarque Creek, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work 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 method to have 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 will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to return 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 wondering what the best means of treatment is in Labarque Creek, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods 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. 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 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 with you to develop an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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 Labarque Creek, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is different, 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 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 selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.