Rotator Cuff Tear in Sappington, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Sappington, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.
Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Sappington, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like you in the Sappington, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you require. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as motion experts permit us to successfully shepherd you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. 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. More than two million people each year nationwide 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 only looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Sappington, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a custom-made, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Sappington, MO
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. On top of helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical task necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in concert 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 the surrounding musculoskeletal structure of the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- 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.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.
The rotator cuff is important in nearly every sort of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.
Common Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Sappington, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your recovery.
There are three main types of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears happen as a result 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 day-to-day movements over time like swimming. They begin with fraying and eventually tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people not knowing that they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a minor injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is located 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.
- Impingement transpires 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 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 function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Sappington, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your Sappington, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Sappington, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be categorized as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you experience a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Stress — 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 Flow — 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 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 irritate 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries frequently acquire them through acute trauma. Sappington, MO residents who work in certain occupations, 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, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more difficult to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Trouble lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly 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 normally lift
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you call a medical professional such as the Sappington, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician 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 method to have your shoulder examined. Early examination and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely heal – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandchildren 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 means of treatment is in Sappington, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods 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. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. 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 with you to make 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:
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Sappington, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened 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 experienced and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully lead you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is different, 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 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 picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
