Rotator Cuff Tear in Weldon Spring, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical pursuits like sports or the physical requirements of your occupation tougher, but it can also affect basic activities reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Weldon Spring, MO team of physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy will work to treat your rotator cuff tear with a bespoke treatment plan that will safely return you to full strength and mobility – free from pain. 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 Weldon Spring, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have dedicated their lives to assisting individuals like you in the Weldon Spring, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you require. Our wide-ranging clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to effectively lead you in your rotator cuff injury recovery. Get in touch with a physical therapist at Axes Physical Therapy today. Contact us now or find out 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 every year nationwide 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 Weldon Spring, MO, and our licensed physical therapists will create a custom-made, evidence-based therapy program to guide you in your recovery from your rotator cuff tear.
The Rotator Cuff | Axes Physical Therapy Weldon Spring, MO
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. In addition to helping prevent shoulder dislocations, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any physical activity necessitating usage of your arm, the rotator cuff musculature operate in concert with other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper extremity. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, as well as the bony anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the substantial amount of movement in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:
- The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
- The infraspinatus is a deep triangle-shaped muscle behind the shoulder which assists with rotation and extension of the shoulder.
- The teres minor is a thin muscle that works together with the infraspinatus to extend your arm outward and keep the arm in place during rotation.
- The subscapularis is a triangular muscle that is the biggest of the rotator cuff muscles. It allows you to rotate your shoulder inward, as well as straighten and lower your arm.
The rotator cuff is fundamental in basically every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in all four muscles in order to correctly rotate, raise, extend, and protect your arm and shoulder. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Weldon Spring, 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 chief causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or chronic degeneration. Trauma can happen when you lift a heavy object or overstretch your arm. Degeneration occurs owing to overuse or standard weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Regardless of what type of pain or injury you are feeling in your shoulder, the Weldon Spring, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to lead you as you recover.
There are three basic sorts of rotator cuff injuries:
- Rotator cuff tears occur as a result of trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear entirely separates the tendon from the bone. Typically, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which injures the tendon but does not totally separate it from the bone. They can be caused by trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating daily movements over time like pitching. The tendon is initially frayed before becoming torn. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. A small injury can often reveal a chronic, partial thickness rotator cuff tear.
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. Patients typically feel pain in the area just outside the joint. Teninopathy frequently happens to people who frequently lift their arms overhead, whether in sports or in their occupation. The irritation is often the result of rotator cuff weakness, improper posture, and weakness of the muscles bordering the shoulder.
- Impingement is caused by a tendon rubbing on a shoulder blade. Generally occurring with overhead activities. Impingement syndrome can later lead to chronic rotator cuff irritation and partial tearing.
All three conditions can be treated successfully with conservative treatment such as 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 Weldon Spring, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will create a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to owning your local pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.
Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Weldon Spring, MO
Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors
A rotator cuff tear can be categorized as one of the following:
- Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear transpires when you sustain a blunt force 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 are also called chronic rotator cuff tears. Associated risk factors include:
- Repetitive Stress — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can occur when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—such as baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to perform a specific motion repetitively.
- 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 age, 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 irritate 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 go through life. Younger people with rotator cuff injuries generally sustain them through acute trauma. Weldon Spring, MO residents who work in certain jobs, 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 exhibit symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause immediate pain, but other times the symptoms are more difficult to note. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:
- Difficulty lifting your arm
- Pain or soreness with certain shoulder motions
- Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the injured 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’re experiencing symptoms, delaying treatment with Weldon Spring, MO physical and occupational therapists could make the injury worse. We will work in tandem 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 means of having your shoulder evaluated. Early evaluation and treatment goes a long way in preventing a frozen shoulder – which is painful and can take up to three years to completely recover from – or arthritis, which can lead to permanent pain and damage to your shoulder joint. We have the know-how and skill to get 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 means of treatment is in Weldon Spring, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be adequate to help ameliorate the symptoms, encourage the body’s natural healing process, and eventually get you back to the activities you love. 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 injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The professional physical therapists at Axes Physical Therapy know how to analyze your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. We will work with you to implement 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:
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
- Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
- Migraine Relief
- Sprain and Strain Treatment
- Geriatric Physical Therapy
- Injury Rehabilitation
- Pain Management Services
- TMJ Treatment
- Herniated Disc Treatment
Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Weldon Spring, MO
Whether your rotator cuff tear happened because 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 experienced and empathetic physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively shepherd you in your recovery. Every rotator cuff tear is different, 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 recover your movement health and help you heal 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 selecting the location closest to you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.
