Rotator Cuff Tear in Villa Ridge, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical requirements of your work harder, but it can also impede basic activities like brushing your teeth. Our Villa Ridge, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a bespoke treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – without any 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 Villa Ridge 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 movement experts equip us to successfully shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff injury. 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 a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Villa Ridge, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a custom-made, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Villa Ridge, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. As well as keeping your humerus in place, the rotator cuff permits you to lift and rotate your arm. For any physical endeavor needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift 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 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 triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder which assists with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in concert 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 helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is indispensable in almost every sort of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to properly rotate, lift, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. 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 chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration happens owing to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Villa Ridge, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you recover.

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 be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day movements over time like throwing. They start with fraying and in time tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people living with them unknowingly. A small injury can regularly 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 is located 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 due to weakness or incorrect technique.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. 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 function, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Villa Ridge, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your local softball league, painting your walls, or conducting basic daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Villa Ridge, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear happens when you sustain a blunt force injury. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. They can also be caused by other structural damage, such as a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also 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 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 — 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 well known for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur as we become older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Over time, the bone can rub against 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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Villa Ridge, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instantaneous pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some typical rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing certain 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 normally lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Villa Ridge, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your treatment. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having 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 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 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 best form of treatment is in Villa Ridge, MO. Usually, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help assuage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, 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 entirely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed 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 design an evidence-based, personalized 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:

• 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 Villa Ridge, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because 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 knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, 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 recover 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 as you leave. 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.