Rotator Cuff Tear in Lake St. Louis, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Lake St. Louis, 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 Lake St. Louis and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively guide 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 must see a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Lake St. Louis, 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 Lake St. Louis, 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 relatively shallow. On top of helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any functional task requiring use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, along with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the large amount of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is vital 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, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Lake St. Louis, 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 occur when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Lake St. Louis, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused 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. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and in time tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people not knowing that they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Generally occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated effectively with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Lake St. Louis, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Lake St. Louis, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you suffer trauma. 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 called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — 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 age our body carries 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.

Getting older is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are due to the usual wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Lake St. Louis, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always experience symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Lake St. Louis, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert 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 goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. 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 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 best form of treatment is in Lake St. Louis, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help improve 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. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess 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:

• 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 Lake St. Louis, 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 expert and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively 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 restore 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 as you leave. Contact us today by choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.