Rotator Cuff Tear in Villa Ridge, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical ventures like sports or the physical demands of your occupation more difficult, but it can also hinder every day tasks writing. Our Villa Ridge, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy caters each treatment plan specifically to each client, their injury, and their desired activity level. 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 exhaustive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts allow us to successfully lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Reach out to 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. Over two million people each 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 simply looking for enduring and meaningful pain relief, make 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 bespoke, evidence-based therapy treatment plan 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 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 allows you to raise your arm and elevate it above your head. For any functional task necessitating maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work 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 the surrounding musculoskeletal structure of the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle that stabilizes the head of your humerus and permits you to raise your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle behind the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a narrow muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
The rotator cuff is indispensable in almost 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 Villa Ridge, 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 principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can occur when you fall on your shoulder or overstretch your arm. Degeneration takes place 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 Villa Ridge, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you in your recovery.
Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:
- 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 day-to-day movements over time like pitching. They begin with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears are asymptomatic with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a mild injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently 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.
- Impingement transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Usually the result of overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor 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 implement a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out necessary everyday 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
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear takes place when you suffer a specific injury. Maybe you attempted 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. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can cause tendons to fray and tear. This can take place when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a certain motion repeatedly.
- Lack of Blood Supply — As we get older our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, meaning it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known 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 risks for Villa Ridge, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always show symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Trouble elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, particularly if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
- Weakness in your shoulder
- Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with specific arm movements
- Inability to lift things you can normally lift
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you call 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 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 diagnosis 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 cause chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the knowledge 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 uncertain as to what the best form of treatment is in Villa Ridge, MO. In the majority of cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help assuage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, 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 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 analyze your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work alongside 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:
- 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 Villa Ridge, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because of an injury or of degeneration over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from experienced and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, 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 restore 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 selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
