Rotator Cuff Tear in Marthasville, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Marthasville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a custom-made 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 on your road to recovery.
All of our physical therapy clinics in Marthasville and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts permit us to successfully shepherd 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 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. Over two million people every year nationwide must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If you have experienced a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are just looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Marthasville, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a bespoke, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Marthasville, MO
The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and lift it over your head. For any physical endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work alongside 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 relatively small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and helps you elevate your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move 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 towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced 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 acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Marthasville, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your treatment.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- 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 completely separate it from the bone. They can transpire because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day movements over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently 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. The pain is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect technique.
- Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 an experienced physical therapist can assuage symptoms and ameliorate function notably. Our Marthasville, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary daily activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Marthasville, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain a blunt force injury. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
- 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 — 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 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 . Over time, the bone can rub against 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries frequently develop them through acute trauma. Marthasville, 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, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:
- Trouble elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder movements
- 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 movements
- Inability to lift things you can usually lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Marthasville, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem 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 a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the expertise and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising 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 wondering what the most successful method of treatment is in Marthasville, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough 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 tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to implement an evidence-based, tailored 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:
- 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 Marthasville, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of degeneration 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 guide you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build 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 look forward to seeing 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.
