Rotator Cuff Tear in Ranken, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your occupation more painful, but it can also affect basic activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Ranken, 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 return you to full strength and mobility – pain free. 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 Ranken, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like you in the Ranken, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you require. Our considerable clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts permit us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Reach out to 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 in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Ranken, 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 Ranken, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. In addition to keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity requiring usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper limb. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, as well as the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that empowers the great scope of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and hold 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 move your arm downward.

Moving your arm or shoulder without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has 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

The two chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place because of overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what kind of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Ranken, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears occur 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 injures 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 repetitive daily movements over time like pitching. They start with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can often 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 is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy frequently 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 around the shoulder.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Generally the result of overhead activities. 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 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 Ranken, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Ranken, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place 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. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions 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 risks for Ranken, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

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

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain shoulder movements
• 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 motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you contact a medical professional such as the Ranken, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert 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 means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which can result in permanent pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting 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 Ranken, MO. Typically, 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. 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 entirely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to design an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to the activities you love, 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:

• 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 Ranken, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create 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 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.