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 painful. 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 on your road to recovery.

All of our physical therapy clinics in Weingarten 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 motion experts allow us to successfully lead you in heal your rotator cuff tear. 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. More than two million people each year in the United States suffer a rotator cuff tear. If you have experienced a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are simply looking for permanent and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Weingarten, MO physical therapy team will have you high-fiving and lifting your arms again sooner than you thought possible.

The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Weingarten, MO

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that holds the ball of your humerus (upper arm bone) in your shoulder socket, which is proportionately shallow. Besides helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff allows you to control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity necessitating use of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature function in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate 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:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that balances the head of your humerus and helps you 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 outward and hold the arm in place during rotation.
4. The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the most powerful of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to 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 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

Rotator cuff injuries are either caused by sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs because of overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you get older. Whatever sort of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Weingarten, MO movement health experts at Axes physical are here to lead 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 transpire because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repetitive every day motions over time like throwing. They begin with fraying and in time tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can frequently 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 centered 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, poor posture, and weakness of the muscles around the shoulder.
3. Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Often caused by repetitive shoulder activities, injury, or age. Impingement syndrome can be a precursor to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.

All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment like physical therapy. 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 create 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 necessary everyday tasks 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 takes place when you sustain a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also accompany other injuries to the shoulder, like a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These are also known as chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • 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 occur as we age, and bone spurs can frequently 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 most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are the result of the general wear and tear our bodies experience over time, and are most common in people over 40 years old. 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, especially if it occurs slowly over time. Acute tears normally cause instantaneous pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to look out for:

• Trouble lifting 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 normally lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Weingarten, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your physician 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 an easy, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to wholly recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. We have the knowledge and skill to get you safely back to what you do and love best, whether it’s lifting 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 uncertain as to what the most effective means of treatment is in Weingarten, MO. In most cases, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be enough to help manage 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 where the tendon is completely torn or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert 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 create an evidence-based, personalized plan to get you back to what you love doing, 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 Weingarten, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear is the result of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to entirely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from expert and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively lead you as you heal. Each rotator cuff tear is different, and at Axes Physical Therapy we create 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 on your way out. 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.