Rotator Cuff Tear in Parkdale, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical requirements of your job tougher, but it can also hinder daily tasks pouring a cup of coffee. Our Parkdale, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a tailored treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – pain free. 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 Parkdale, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Parkdale, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you wish for. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as movement experts allow us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people every year in the United States 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 just looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Parkdale, 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 Parkdale, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. As well as keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff lets you control the movement of your arm. For any physical endeavor requiring 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 limb. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, along with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that allow us the large scope of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and permits you to elevate your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick 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 in concert 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 largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you 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 has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Parkdale, 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 principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire 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. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Parkdale, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your recovery.

There are three main kinds of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused because 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 be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like throwing. 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. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain occurs in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, poor 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 conditions can be treated successfully 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 a highly-knowledgeable physical therapist can lessen symptoms and improve function remarkably. Our Parkdale, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary daily activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Parkdale, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain a specific injury. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—including baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to carry out a certain motion repetitively.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — 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 infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we age, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.

Age is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are because of the typical wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries usually sustain them through acute trauma. Parkdale, 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, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instantaneous pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Parkdale, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work together with your physician 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 an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder evaluated. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally heal – 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 raising 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 uncertain as to what the most effective means of treatment is in Parkdale, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit 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 plan for you. We will work alongside you to develop an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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 Parkdale, 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 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 on your way out. 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.