Rotator Cuff Tear in South County, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical demands of your job tougher, but it can also hinder basic activities writing. Our South County, 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.

All of our physical therapy clinics in South County and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our extensive clinical expertise, proven treatment plans, and background as motion experts permit us to effectively 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people every year nationwide must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist owing to rotator cuff tears. 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 enduring and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in South County, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will build a tailored, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy South County, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you raise your arm and elevate it over your head. For any physical task requiring 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 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 rotator cuff contains:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works alongside the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most forceful 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 without a healthy rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the South County, 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 principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration transpires because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the South County, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you in your recovery.

There are three main types of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears take place 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 occur because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive day-to-day movements over time like repeatedly lifting heavy objects. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a minor injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is located in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Typically occurring with overhead activities. 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 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 South County, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your South County, MO softball league, painting your walls, or performing basic everyday tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy South County, 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. They can also be caused by other structural damage, 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 — As we get older our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen 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 understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the typical wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries usually acquire them through acute trauma. South County, 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 experience symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Clicking, grating, or popping sensations, especially when associated with specific motions
• Inability to lift things you can typically lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the South County, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert with your physician to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to entirely heal – or arthritis, which can result in permanent pain and harm 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 lifting 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 uncertain as to what the best means of treatment is in South County, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help improve 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. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is completely torn or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to make an evidence-based, customized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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 South County, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of weakening 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 guide you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build 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 look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team on your way out. Contact us today by picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.