Rotator Cuff Tear in Saint Paul, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Saint Paul, 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Saint Paul and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Reach out to 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 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 suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. As well as keeping your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff lets you raise your arm and lift it over your head. For any physical endeavor requiring usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate together 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 larger shoulder muscles and the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:

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 slender muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm away from your body and keep the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It permits you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Saint Paul, 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 main causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Saint Paul, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your treatment.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears take place 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 repetitive every day motions over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know 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. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or as part of their job. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm motions. 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 a personalized treatment plan. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can reduce symptoms and better function remarkably. Our Saint Paul, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Saint Paul, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience a blunt force injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Stress — 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 — 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 . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

Aging is the most recognized risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are because of the usual wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries typically acquire them through acute trauma. Saint Paul, 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 occurs slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain 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 motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Saint Paul, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in tandem with your physician to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder evaluated. Early examination and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – 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 raising your grandkids over your head or striking out the side.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the best method of treatment is in Saint Paul, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help limit pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases with full-thickness tears 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 determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to develop 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 Saint Paul, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a customized 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 as you leave. Contact us today by selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.