Rotator Cuff Tear in Weingarten, MO. A rotator cuff tear not only keep you from the things you love, but can make day-to-day life debilitating. Our Weingarten, 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 Weingarten, MO and Missouri is managed by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to aiding individuals like you in the Weingarten, MO area achieve the mobility and physical well-being you desire. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as motion experts permit us to effectively shepherd you in your rotator cuff tear recovery. 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 be the result of trauma or overuse over time. More than two million people every year nationwide must see a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport, or just making daily tasks difficult, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. We are the leading physical therapy team in Weingarten, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will implement a personalized, evidence-based therapy treatment plan to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Weingarten, 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 lets you lift and rotate your arm. For any functional activity necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper limb. It’s the collaboration between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, along with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the great scope of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and helps you elevate your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
- The teres minor is a slender muscle that works in concert with the infraspinatus to extend your arm away from your body and hold the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.
Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. 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 Weingarten, 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
Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by acute trauma or gradual degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration transpires owing to overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what sort of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Weingarten, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you heal.
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 repeating day-to-day motions over time like throwing. They start with fraying and after some time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is centered in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy regularly happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often because of rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
- Impingement takes place when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. 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 a personalized treatment plan. While individualized physical therapy can reduce symptoms and improve movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Weingarten, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will implement a personalized plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to dominating your local pickleball league, painting your walls, or carrying out basic daily activities like pouring a cup of coffee with comfort and ease.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Weingarten, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
The two types of rotator cuff tears are:
- Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience trauma. Maybe you fell on your overstretched arm. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
- Degenerative Tears — These are also 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. 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 infamous for its poor blood supply.
- Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we age, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which acts as the roof of your shoulder . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.
Age is the best-known risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are caused by the usual wear and tear our bodies experience 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 Weingarten, MO young people.
Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms
You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instant pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to notice. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:
- Difficulty elevating your arm
- Pain or soreness with 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 usually lift
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you get in touch with a medical professional such as the Weingarten, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor to coordinate a plan for your recovery. Visiting any of our locations for a free injury screening is an easy, cost-effective method to have your shoulder examined. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to totally recover from – or arthritis, which can cause chronic pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise and skill to return you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s raising your grandkids over your head or serving an ace.
Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the best form of treatment is in Weingarten, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help ameliorate 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 completely torn or if the tear refuses to heal with more conservative care. The licensed physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to assess your condition and implement the best treatment plan for you. We will work alongside you to make 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:
- 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 Weingarten, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening 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 as you heal. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we build a personalized 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 look forward to seeing you once again able to high-five your clinical team as you leave. 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.