Rotator Cuff Tear in St. Ann, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our St. Ann, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a custom-made treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – free from pain. 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 St. Ann and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to helping people feel pain-free again. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts equip us to effectively shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff injury. Get in touch with 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. Over two million people every year nationwide 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 just looking for enduring and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in St. Ann, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will make a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy St. Ann, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. As well as keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical task needing use 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. It’s the synergy between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the large amount of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and allows you to raise your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is indispensable in basically every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has balanced strength and control in order to have optimal range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the St. Ann, 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 happen when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the St. Ann, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you in your recovery.

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

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused because of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can transpire because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like swimming. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. 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), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often due to rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated effectively with conservative treatment such as 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 St. Ann, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your St. Ann, MO softball league, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily activities like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy St. Ann, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear takes place when you suffer trauma. You may have fallen on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder movements over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your occupation requires you to perform a specific motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Supply — As we age our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous 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, causing 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 go through life. Younger people with rotator cuff tears usually acquire them through acute trauma. St. Ann, 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, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain 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 usually lift

If you’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with St. Ann, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. 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 a simple, cost-effective method to have your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising 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 wondering what the most effective means of treatment is in St. Ann, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Luckily, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is wholly torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with 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:

• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Post Surgical Rehabilitation
• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy St. Ann, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result 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 expert and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a tailored 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 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.