Rotator Cuff Tear in St. Peters, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation more painful, but it can also impede daily tasks driving a car. Our St. Peters, 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 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.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout St. Peters, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to helping individuals like you in the St. Peters, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you require. Our substantial clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as movement experts equip us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff injury 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. More than two million people each year in the United States 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 lasting and meaningful pain relief, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our St. Peters, MO physical therapy team will have you high-fiving and lifting your arms again sooner than you thought possible.

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

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. In addition to keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff helps you raise your arm and elevate it above your head. For any functional activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate 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 rotator cuff is made up of:

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 which helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows 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 balanced strength and control in all four muscles in order to adequately rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the St. Peters, 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 main causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens due to overuse or typical weakening of the muscles and tendons with age. No matter what type of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the St. Peters, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide 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. 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 repetitive every day movements over time like pitching. 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. A small injury can often 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. The pain occurs in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, incorrect posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Generally occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three injuries can be treated effectively with conservative treatment such as physical therapy. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can decrease symptoms and ameliorate function notably. Our St. Peters, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or conducting necessary daily tasks like brushing your teeth with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy St. Peters, 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 specific 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 can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is harder for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. 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 become older. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for St. Peters, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instantaneous pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially 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 exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the St. Peters, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, 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 entirely recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising 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 wondering what the best means of treatment is in St. Peters, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help improve the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly by itself, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help manage pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in cases with complete tears or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to create 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:

• 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 St. Peters, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of wear and tear over time, you won’t be able to fully enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you in your recovery. Every rotator cuff tear is unique, 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 recover 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 nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.