Rotator Cuff Tear in Osage Hills, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Osage Hills, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a custom-made 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Osage Hills and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our considerable clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with a 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 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 every year nationwide must see 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 painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Osage Hills, 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 Osage Hills, 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. As well as helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function 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 rotator cuff is made up 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 triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable 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 fundamental in basically every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Osage Hills, 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 main causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Osage Hills, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your treatment.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears happen 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. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can happen because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like swimming. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms 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), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles in the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated effectively with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. While individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Osage Hills, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your local softball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Osage Hills, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain a blunt force injury. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called 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 cause tendons to fray and tear. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous 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.

Aging is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the general wear and tear our bodies are subjected to over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff tears generally acquire them through acute trauma. Osage Hills, MO residents who work in certain jobs, play certain sports, or repeatedly lift heavy things or consistently move their arms overhead are also at higher risk.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

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

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly 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 typically lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Osage Hills, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early examination and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely recover from – or arthritis, which can result in chronic pain and injury to your shoulder joint. 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 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 form of treatment is in Osage Hills, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with full-thickness tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside you to design 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:

• 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 Osage Hills, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and compassionate 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 build 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 recover 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 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.