Rotator Cuff Tear in Park Hills, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical demands of your work tougher, but it can also hamper every day activities like brushing your teeth. Our Park Hills, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Park Hills, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Park Hills, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you wish for. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff injury. 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people every year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Park 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 Park Hills, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff helps you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any functional endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work 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 consists of:

1. The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm to the side and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.

Common Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Park Hills, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your recovery.

There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

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 entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not entirely separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like pitching. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people not knowing that 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. The pain occurs in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often caused by rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. 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 reduce symptoms and better function notably. Our Park 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 swimming, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Park 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 transpires when you suffer a specific injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. 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 Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a certain motion repetitively.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we age our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, making it harder for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is notorious 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 most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are because of the standard 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 injuries generally sustain them through acute trauma. Park Hills, MO residents who work in certain occupations, 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, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but sometimes 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 motions
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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 have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Park Hills, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the know-how and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting 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 wondering what the best form of treatment is in Park Hills, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, 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. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is totally torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to design an evidence-based, personalized 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 Park Hills, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of wear and tear 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 lead you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create a personalized 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 picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.