Rotator Cuff Tear in Preston Woods, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Preston Woods, 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Preston Woods and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff tear 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. More than two million people every year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Preston Woods, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will build a tailored, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Preston Woods, 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. In addition to holding your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff lets you lift and rotate your arm. For any physical task needing use 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 extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, stronger muscles, along with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great amount of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 skinny muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the strongest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

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 order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Preston Woods, 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 acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires because of overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Preston Woods, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your recovery.

There are three principal types of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears happen 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day movements over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and eventually tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. 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. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. 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 safe and effective treatment. 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 Preston Woods, 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 owning your Preston Woods, MO softball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Preston Woods, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be classified as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear transpires 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 called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • 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 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 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.

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 causes for Preston Woods, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to note. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Preston Woods, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in concert with your doctor 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 a simple, cost-effective means of having 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 wholly heal – or arthritis, which can cause permanent pain and damage 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 lifting your grandkids 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 most successful method of treatment is in Preston Woods, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help ameliorate the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is totally torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The licensed 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 develop an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:

• Shoulder Pain Treatment
• 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

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Preston Woods, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a tailored 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 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.