Rotator Cuff Tear in O’Fallon, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your work more painful, but it can also disrupt daily activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our O’Fallon, 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 – 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 O’Fallon, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to aiding individuals like you in the O’Fallon, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you wish for. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully 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 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 O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball 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 raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical activity needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is fundamental in almost every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires 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 O’Fallon, 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place owing to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the O’Fallon, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your treatment.

There are three principal kinds of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears transpire because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear totally separates the tendon from the bone. Generally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like pitching. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. 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 degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead 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 better function remarkably. Our O’Fallon, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a personalized 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 pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy O’Fallon, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience a specific 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 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—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a specific motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can lead to larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . 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; the majority of rotator cuff tears are the result of the standard 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 causes for O’Fallon, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always experience symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble raising your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you reach out to a medical professional such as the O’Fallon, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem 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 diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly heal – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to return 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 asking yourself what the best method of treatment is in O’Fallon, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is entirely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and implement the best treatment plan 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:

• 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 O’Fallon, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening 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 successfully shepherd 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 recover 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 choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.