Rotator Cuff Tear in Leslie, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Leslie, 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 – pain free. Fill out our online form or schedule an appointment today to get started on your road to recovery.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Leslie, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Leslie, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you require. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts equip us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Begin treatment with a devoted 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people every year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are simply looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Leslie, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will make a bespoke, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Leslie, MO
The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and elevate it above your head. For any functional task necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
The rotator cuff is essential in nearly every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.
Common Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Leslie, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your treatment.
There are three basic kinds of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears happen because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like swimming. They begin with fraying and after some time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- 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 often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles in the shoulder.
- 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 conditions can be treated effectively 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-knowledgeable physical therapist can reduce symptoms and improve function considerably. Our Leslie, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Leslie, 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 happens when you suffer trauma. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to carry out a specific motion repeatedly.
- Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious 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, 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 go through life. Younger people with rotator cuff tears generally develop them through acute trauma. Leslie, 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 symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty raising 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 usually lift
If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Leslie, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert with your physician to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and injury 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 picking up your grandchildren over your head or serving an ace.
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 Leslie, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is totally 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 implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:
- Shoulder Pain Treatment
- Back Pain Treatment
- 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
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Leslie, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is different, 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 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 choosing the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
