Rotator Cuff Tear in Valley Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Valley Park, 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 – without any pain. 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 Valley Park, MO and Missouri is led by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Valley Park, MO area achieve the mobility and physical health you want. Our comprehensive clinical expertise, evidence-based treatment plans, and background as motion experts equip us to effectively guide you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Reach out to 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. More than two million people each year nationwide must visit a doctor or physical therapist because of 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 simply looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Valley Park, 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 Valley Park, MO
The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any functional task necessitating usage 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 larger shoulder muscles and the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder. The rotator cuff contains:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to rotate your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the largest 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 has equal strength and control in order to have optimal range of motion. If you’re experiencing pain or limited motion in your shoulder, come see Axes for a free injury screening.
Common Rotator Cuff Injuries
The two leading causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can transpire when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs owing to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. No matter what type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Valley Park, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to guide you as you heal.
There are three main types of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears occur as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear wholly separates the tendon from the bone. Most often, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not entirely separate it from the bone. They can the result of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like throwing. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears show no symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. A small injury can regularly reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy often happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often caused by weakness or incorrect posture.
- Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a prelude to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.
Licensed physical therapists can help you recover from any of these injuries with a personalized treatment plan. 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 lessen symptoms and improve function remarkably. Our Valley Park, 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 swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Valley Park, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you experience a blunt force injury. Maybe you attempted to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also 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. These are common in sports like swimming and baseball, or jobs that require repeated overhead lifting.
- 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 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 rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, causing it to fray and tear.
Age is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; most rotator cuff tears are due to the standard wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common risks for Valley Park, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are harder to note. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- Trouble raising your arm
- Pain or soreness with specific shoulder movements
- 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 motions
- Inability to lift things you can normally lift
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you contact a medical professional such as the Valley Park, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work in concert with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly heal – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the expertise 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 uncertain as to what the best form of treatment is in Valley Park, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. If the pain is severely debilitating, a physician make recommend anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears where the tendon is wholly 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 implement the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to develop 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:
- 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 Valley Park, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from experienced and caring 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 create 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 picking the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
