Rotator Cuff Tear in Mechanicsville, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical requirements of your job more painful, but it can also impede basic activities pouring a cup of coffee. Our Mechanicsville, 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.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Mechanicsville, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Mechanicsville, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you wish for. Our substantial clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts equip us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Get in touch with a 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 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. More than two million people each 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 just looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Mechanicsville, 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 Mechanicsville, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. On top of keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper limb. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, along with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the large amount of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to move your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most forceful 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 with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Mechanicsville, MO occupational and physical therapists at Axes for a free injury screening, so we can design an evidence-based plan to return you to to the activities you love.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

The two chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Mechanicsville, MO rotator cuff 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. 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 damages the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily motions over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people living with them unknowingly. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often because of rotator cuff weakness, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm motions. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated effectively 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 Mechanicsville, 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 dominating your local pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Mechanicsville, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you sustain a blunt force injury. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a specific motion repetitively.
  • 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 result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known 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 rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.

Aging is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are caused by the standard wear and tear our bodies are subjected to 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 Mechanicsville, MO young people.

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 harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty 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 Mechanicsville, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert with your doctor 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 analyzed. Early examination and treatment can help prevent 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 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 asking yourself what the most effective method of treatment is in Mechanicsville, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is wholly torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to create an evidence-based, customized 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:

• 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 Mechanicsville, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened 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 compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a tailored 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 nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.