Rotator Cuff Tear in Warrenton, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical pursuits like sports or the physical demands of your job more difficult, but it can also affect basic tasks reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Warrenton, 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.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Warrenton, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Warrenton, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you want. Our substantial clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Start working with a devoted 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 either be acute — meaning it happens as the result of an injury, such as falling or lifting a heavy object — or can happen gradually because of overuse. Over two million people every year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks painful, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Warrenton, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will design a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Warrenton, MO

The rotator cuff is a set of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff lets you lift and rotate your arm. For any functional activity necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate in tandem with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to lift or move the upper extremity. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great range 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 triangular muscle behind the shoulder which helps with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a skinny muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to move your arm outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most sizable of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is fundamental in nearly every type of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff requires 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 chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too much. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Warrenton, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to shepherd you as you recover.

There are three principal kinds 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 occur because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive daily movements over time like swimming. They start with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. Patients typically feel pain in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often caused by 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. Usually occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated effectively with conservative treatment like physical therapy. 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 Warrenton, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will design a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic everyday activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Warrenton, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

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

• Acute Tears — This kind of rotator cuff tear takes place when you sustain trauma. 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 referred to as chronic rotator cuff tears. They happen over time and can be the result of several factors:
  • Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder movements 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 work requires you to carry out a specific motion over and over.
  • 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 — 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 go through life. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Warrenton, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more difficult to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness when performing specific shoulder motions
• 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 usually lift

If you exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you contact a medical professional such as the Warrenton, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Going to any of our locations for a free injury screening is a simple, 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 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 most successful form of treatment is in Warrenton, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment methods such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help improve 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 cases with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to evaluate your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to develop 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:

• 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 Warrenton, 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 completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from professional and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully guide you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a customized 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 as you leave. Contact us today by choosing the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.