Rotator Cuff Tear in Lemay, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical pursuits like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation more painful, but it can also impede every day activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Lemay, 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 get you back to full strength and mobility – pain free. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started with healing your rotator cuff injury.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Lemay and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully shepherd you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Start treatment with a devoted physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or learn more about the location most convenient for you.

A rotator cuff tear can be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people each year in the United States 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 just looking for enduring and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Lemay, 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 Lemay, 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. As well as helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional task requiring use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and helps you elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which aids revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Lemay, 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Lemay, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you heal.

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 totally separates the tendon from the bone. Usually, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can transpire because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is centered in the area just outside 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 due to rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
3. 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.

All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-trained physical therapist can decrease symptoms and ameliorate function notably. Our Lemay, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Lemay, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to perform a certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — 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 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 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 become older. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries normally develop them through acute trauma. Lemay, MO residents who work in certain jobs, 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, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to notice. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing 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 specific arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Lemay, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which can result in chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting your grandkids 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 method of treatment is in Lemay, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve 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 where the tendon is completely torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to make an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to the activities you love, free from the pain and 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 Lemay, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because 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 experienced and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, 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 recover your movement health and help you heal from your rotator cuff tear, and we can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.