Rotator Cuff Tear in Wilbur Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical demands of your occupation more painful, but it can also impede every day tasks reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Wilbur Park, 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 Wilbur Park, MO and Missouri is run by physical and occupational therapists who have devoted their lives to helping individuals like you in the Wilbur Park, MO area achieve the mobility and physical wellness you want. Our exhaustive clinical expertise, proven practices, and background as motion experts allow us to effectively shepherd you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Reach out to a 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. Over two million people every year nationwide must see a doctor or physical therapist because of rotator cuff tears. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear and want to get back to the activities and sports you love or are only looking for lasting and meaningful pain relief, schedule an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our Wilbur Park, 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 Wilbur Park, 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 keeping your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff helps you control the movement of your arm. For any functional task requiring maneuvering of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles operate alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to elevate or move the upper extremity. It’s the cooperation between the rotator cuff and the larger, more forceful muscles, combined with the bone anatomy of the shoulder, that allow us the substantial amount of motion in the shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of:

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 deep triangle-shaped muscle on the back of the shoulder allows you to rotate and extend your arm.
3. The teres minor is a slender muscle that works alongside 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 largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and move your arm downward.

The rotator cuff is key in basically every kind of shoulder movement. A healthy rotator cuff has equal strength and control in order to have full range of motion. If you have sustained a rotator cuff tear or any other injury, come see the Wilbur Park, 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 chronic degeneration. Trauma can occur when you fall on your shoulder or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration occurs due to overuse or customary weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever type of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Wilbur Park, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to guide you as you recover.

There are three principal sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears are caused by trauma or can be more chronic in nature. A complete, or full-thickness, rotator cuff tear wholly separates the tendon from the bone. Usually, a rotator cuff tear is a partial tear, which damages the tendon but does not completely separate it from the bone. They can the result 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. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a light injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), happens when one of the tendons is inflamed or otherwise irritated. The pain is located in the area surrounding the joint. Teninopathy consistently happens to overhead athletes or those who work with their arms overhead. The irritation is often because of weakness or incorrect posture.
3. Impingement occurs when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during specific arm motions. Normally 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 movement, Axes can also help you with pre- and post-surgical rehab if a full-thickness tear required surgery. Our Wilbur Park, MO team of physical and occupational therapists will develop a tailored plan for your rotator cuff tear recovery so that you can get back to swimming, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like pouring a cup of coffee pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Wilbur Park, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

The two types of rotator cuff tears are:

• Acute Tears — This type of rotator cuff tear occurs when you experience a specific injury. Maybe you tried 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 cause tendons to fray and tear. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—for example baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your job requires you to carry out a certain motion repeatedly.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body supplies less blood to our rotator cuff, and as a result it is more difficult for the body to heal small tears, which can result in larger tears. The rotator cuff is well known for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also occur 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.

Aging is the most understood risk factor for a rotator cuff tear; the majority of rotator cuff tears are due to the standard wear and tear our bodies undergo over time, and are most common in people over the age of 40. Younger people with rotator cuff tears generally sustain them through acute trauma. Wilbur Park, 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 have symptoms of a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it develops slowly over time. Acute tears typically cause immediate pain, but sometimes the symptoms are more subtle. There are some standard rotator cuff tear symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain or soreness when carrying out certain shoulder movements
• Pain at night or when resting, especially if you’re lying on the affected shoulder
• Weakness in your shoulder
• Hearing or feeling clicking, grating, or popping with certain arm movements
• Inability to lift things you can normally lift

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you call a medical professional such as the Wilbur Park, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work together with your doctor 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 a simple, cost-effective means of having your shoulder analyzed. Early examination 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 harm to your shoulder joint. We have the expertise 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 wondering what the most effective form of treatment is in Wilbur Park, MO. Most of the time, rest, icing, and physical therapy treatment practices such as stretching and strengthening exercises will be sufficient to help manage the symptoms, let your rotator cuff heal properly on its own, 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 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 make an evidence-based, customized 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:

• 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 Wilbur Park, MO

Whether your rotator cuff tear occured because of an injury or of weakening over time, you won’t be able to completely enjoy your life as you should until you get treatment from knowledgeable and caring physical and occupational therapists who can safely and successfully shepherd you in your recovery. No two rotator cuff tears are exactly the same, and at Axes Physical Therapy we design 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 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 nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.