Rotator Cuff Tear in Old Monroe, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Old Monroe, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Old Monroe, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like you in the Old Monroe, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you desire. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Start treatment with a committed 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 visit 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 challenging, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Old Monroe, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a tailored, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Old Monroe, 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. In addition to holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any functional endeavor requiring maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate alongside 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 rotator cuff contains:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
The rotator cuff is important in basically every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced 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 leading causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens due to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Old Monroe, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you heal.
There are three basic kinds of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears transpire as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear totally separates the tendon from the bone. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can happen as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They start with fraying and eventually 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.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area surrounding 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, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
- Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Typically the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-trained physical therapist can assuage symptoms and ameliorate function considerably. Our Old Monroe, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Old Monroe, MO pickleball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Old Monroe, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you sustain a blunt force injury. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. 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 Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can happen when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a certain motion repetitively.
- Lack of Blood Flow — Proper blood flow ensures that minor injuries heal properly. When blood flow is restricted, irritation can gradually turn into a tear. 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 irritate a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading it to fray and tear.
Most rotator cuff tears happen to people over the age of 40 as a result of the wear and tear our bodies experience as we go through life. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Old Monroe, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instantaneous pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty raising 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 certain arm motions
- Inability to lift things you can typically lift
If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Old Monroe, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early examination and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which can result in 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 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 asking yourself what the most successful means of treatment is in Old Monroe, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, 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 full-thickness tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional 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 create an evidence-based, personalized 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:
- Back Pain Treatment
- 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
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Old Monroe, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because 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 experienced and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you in your recovery. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a customized 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 heal from your rotator cuff tear, and we can’t wait to see you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. Contact us today by selecting the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.















































































































































































