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 painful. 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 managed by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Sappington, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as movement experts allow us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Reach out to 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 must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks challenging, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Sappington, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a bespoke, 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 top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature work in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise 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 larger shoulder muscles and the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm outward and hold 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 helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

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, elevate, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Sappington, 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 occur when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires due to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Sappington, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your recovery.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears take place as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely separates the tendon from the bone. Usually, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not wholly separate it from the bone. They can happen as a result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive every day motions over time like swimming. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people not knowing that they have them. A small injury can frequently reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often because of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles in the shoulder.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. Generally occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. 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 Sappington, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will build a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your Sappington, MO pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary everyday activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Sappington, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear transpires when you sustain a blunt force injury. Maybe you tried to lift something too heavy. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also known as 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. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a certain motion over and over.
  • 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 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. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries generally develop them through acute trauma. Sappington, 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 happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but occasionally the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out specific shoulder movements
• 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 specific arm motions
• Inability to lift things you can usually lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Sappington, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together 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 evaluated. Early evaluation 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 can result in permanent pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting your grandchildren 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 asking yourself what the best means of treatment is in Sappington, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help decrease pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with full-thickness tears or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate 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, 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:

• 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 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 knowledgeable and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a customized 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 recover 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 choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.