Rotator Cuff Tear in Peerless Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our Peerless Park, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a bespoke treatment plan that will safely get you back 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Peerless Park and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or discover 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 must visit a doctor or physical therapist because of 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 Peerless Park, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Peerless Park, 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. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any functional activity necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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 rotator cuff is made up of:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately 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 which helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to rotate your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most forceful 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 all four muscles in order to properly rotate, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Peerless Park, 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 happen when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Peerless Park, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.

There are three main types of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive every day motions over time like throwing. 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 mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy frequently 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 happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Typically occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead 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 individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Peerless Park, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your neighborhood pickleball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Peerless Park, 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 experience trauma. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, like 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 motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body carries less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. 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 rub against 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 become older. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Peerless Park, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instantaneous pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain 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 Peerless Park, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder analyzed. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent 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 expertise and skill to get 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 uncertain as to what the most effective means of treatment is in Peerless Park, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to implement 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:

• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
• Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
• Migraine Relief
• Sprain and Strain Treatment
• Geriatric Physical Therapy
• Injury Rehabilitation
• Pain Management Services
• TMJ Treatment
• Herniated Disc Treatment

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Peerless Park, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you in your recovery. 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 recover from your rotator cuff tear, and we look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. Contact us today by picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.