Rotator Cuff Tear in Mapaville, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Mapaville, 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 Mapaville and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to effectively lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Start working with a dedicated 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. Over two million people each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Mapaville, 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 Mapaville, 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. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and elevate it above your head. For any physical task necessitating 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 limb. 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 consists of:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.
Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. 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 occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Mapaville, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your treatment.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- Rotator cuff tears occur because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. The most common tear is a partial tear, which damages a tendon, while a full-thickness tear completely separates a tendon 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. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often due to weakness or incorrect technique.
- Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. 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 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 Mapaville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic daily tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Mapaville, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you experience 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 called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions 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 Flow — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.
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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Mapaville, 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 instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to notice. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:
- Trouble lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness when carrying out certain 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 normally lift
If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Mapaville, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem with your doctor 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 analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely recover from – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and injury 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 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 form of treatment is in Mapaville, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is totally torn 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 implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to make 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:
- 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
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Mapaville, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 knowledgeable and caring 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 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 selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
