Rotator Cuff Tear in Maryland Heights, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Maryland Heights, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a personalized treatment plan that will safely get you back to full strength and mobility – free from 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 Maryland Heights 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 practices, and background as movement experts equip us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with 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 every year nationwide must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Maryland Heights, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a custom-made, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Maryland Heights, 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. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and lift it above your head. For any physical task requiring maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function in tandem 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 rotator cuff consists of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and allows you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder which aids rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is key in nearly every sort of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, lift, 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 gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Maryland Heights, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.

There are three principal kinds of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by 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 damages the tendon but does not entirely 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 repeatedly lifting heavy objects. 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.
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 surrounding 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 weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as 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 Maryland Heights, 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 carrying out basic everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Maryland Heights, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you suffer a specific injury. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can occur 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 carry out a specific motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it 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 . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Aging is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are the result of the general wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Maryland Heights, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always show symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out 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 normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Maryland Heights, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder evaluated. 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 will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting your grandkids over your head or swimming 400 meters.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be wondering what the best method of treatment is in Maryland Heights, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient 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 the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to develop an evidence-based, personalized 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 Maryland Heights, 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 knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a personalized 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 picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.