Rotator Cuff Tear in Meacham Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical requirements of your job more painful, but it can also hamper basic tasks pouring a cup of coffee. Our Meacham Park, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Meacham Park, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Meacham Park, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you wish for. Our considerable clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Start working with a committed 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 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 each year in the United States must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Meacham Park, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a bespoke, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Meacham Park, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. As well as keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff allows you to raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical endeavor needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function 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 consists of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular 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 lower your arm.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately 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

The two chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Meacham Park, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you heal.

Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily motions 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 frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement occurs 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 conditions can be treated effectively 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 Meacham Park, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Meacham Park, 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 occurs when you sustain trauma. 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 known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to carry out a specific motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, making it more difficult 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 — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we age, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.

Age is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are the result of the general wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Meacham Park, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to notice. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured 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 experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Meacham Park, 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 an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early examination 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 will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up 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 wondering what the most successful form of treatment is in Meacham Park, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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 with complete tears 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 alongside you to create 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:

• 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 Meacham Park, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 expert and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. 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 as you leave. 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.