Rotator Cuff Tear in New Haven, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical demands of your work more painful, but it can also hamper basic activities like brushing your teeth. Our New Haven, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a bespoke 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.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout New Haven, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to assisting individuals like you in the New Haven, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you wish for. Our substantial clinical expertise, evidence-based 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 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 nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have experienced a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for enduring and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in New Haven, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy New Haven, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. As well as helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you lift and rotate your arm. For any physical activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and allows you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to rotate your arm away from your body 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 permits you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is vital in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the New Haven, 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 sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place due to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the New Haven, 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 take place as a result 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 take place because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive every day movements over time like pitching. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
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 surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly 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. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

Licensed physical therapists can help you recover from any of these injuries with a personalized treatment plan. 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 New Haven, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing necessary everyday activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy New Haven, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you sustain a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. 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. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can take place 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 certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is 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 . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Age is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are caused by the standard 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 risks for New Haven, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some common rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with New Haven, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to 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 wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up 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 uncertain as to what the most effective means of treatment is in New Haven, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods 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 a pain free life. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional 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 implement 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 New Haven, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a personalized plan for you based on evidence and your individual needs. As your physical therapist, we work hard to help you recover your movement health and help you recover 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 picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.