Rotator Cuff Tear in St. Clair, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life painful. Our St. Clair, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a personalized treatment plan that will safely get you back to full strength and mobility – free from pain. 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 St. Clair and throughout Missouri are owned and operated by physical therapists who have dedicated themselves to securing positive patient outcomes. Our considerable clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts allow us to effectively shepherd you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Get in touch with 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people every year in the United States must schedule a visit with a doctor or physical therapist due to rotator cuff tears. If you have sustained 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, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in St. Clair, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a personalized, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy St. Clair, 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. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff permits you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical task requiring use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that allow us the large scope of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

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 thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward 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 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 order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the St. Clair, 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 acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration happens because of overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the St. Clair, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.

There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused 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 the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day motions over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. 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 mild injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain occurs in the area just outside 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 weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm movements. 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 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 St. Clair, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy St. Clair, 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 experience a specific injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something too heavy. They can also be caused by other structural damage, 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 carry out a certain motion repetitively.
  • 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 frequently 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.

Age is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are caused by the general wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for St. Clair, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to notice. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific 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 certain arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the St. Clair, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. 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 can lead to chronic pain and harm to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids over your head or serving an ace.

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 form of treatment is in St. Clair, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help ameliorate the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, 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. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases where the tendon is totally torn or if rest and physical therapy have not been successful. The expert physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to implement 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:

• 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
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy St. Clair, 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 knowledgeable and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you in your recovery. Each rotator cuff tear is unique, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a tailored 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 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.