Rotator Cuff Tear in Washington, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical tasks like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation more difficult, but it can also disrupt daily activities pouring a cup of coffee. Our Washington, 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 with healing your rotator cuff injury.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Washington, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have committed their lives to helping individuals like you in the Washington, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you want. Our extensive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts equip us to successfully shepherd you in your rotator cuff tear 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 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 nationwide 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 difficult, make an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Washington, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Washington, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that keeps the top of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is relatively shallow. In addition to keeping your shoulder from falling out of place, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any functional task needing usage of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles work together with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper extremity. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that enables the great scope of movement in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that holds in place the head of your humerus and permits you to lift your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a thick triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which helps with revolution and extension of the shoulder.
3. The teres minor is a thin muscle that works in tandem with the infraspinatus to extend your arm to the side and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangle-shaped muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

The rotator cuff is fundamental in nearly every kind of shoulder movement. 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 basic causes of rotator cuff injuries are acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or normal weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. No matter what sort of pain or injury you are experiencing in your shoulder, the Washington, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you in your treatment.

Rotator cuff injuries fall into 1 of the 3 categories below:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear completely separates the tendon from the bone. Normally, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which hurts the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating day-to-day motions over time like throwing. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Many chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tears do not have symptoms with many people living with them unknowingly. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is swelling, irritation or weakening of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. The pain is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy often happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often due to weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement happens when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm movements. Typically the result of overhead activities. 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 a personalized treatment plan. While some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with a highly-knowledgeable physical therapist can reduce symptoms and better function remarkably. Our Washington, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will make a customized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily activities like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Washington, 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 experience trauma. Maybe you attempted to lift something too heavy. 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 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 — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we become older, and bone spurs can frequently occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . After a while, the bone can rub against a tendon, resulting in rotator cuff impingement, leading 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 become older. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries normally acquire them through acute trauma. Washington, MO residents who work in certain occupations, play certain sports, or repeatedly lift heavy things or consistently move their arms overhead are also at higher risk.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears usually cause instant pain, but sometimes the symptoms are harder to note. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Difficulty elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with certain shoulder motions
• Pain at night or when resting, particularly 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Washington, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem with your physician to come up with a game plan that will safely and successfully get you back to the activities you love. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally heal – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent pain and injury to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s picking up your grandchildren over your head or striking out the side.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the best means of treatment is in Washington, MO. Typically, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to a pain free life. You may also get anti-inflammatory medicine or injections to help reduce pain. Fortunately, surgery is only recommended in rotator cuff tears with complete tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and determine the best treatment method for you. We will work with you to implement an evidence-based, tailored plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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:

• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment
• Spine Specialist Near Me
• MCL Injury
• Shoulder Pain
• Injury Prevention

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Washington, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because 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 expert and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design a customized 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 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 picking the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.