Rotator Cuff Tear in Wilbur Park, MO. A rotator cuff tear can not only make physical activities like sports or the physical requirements of your work tougher, but it can also affect daily tasks reaching for something on the top shelf. Our Wilbur Park, 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 on your road to recovery.

Our locally owned and operated network of physical therapy clinics throughout Wilbur Park, MO and Missouri is led 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 desire. Our substantial clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, and background as movement experts permit us to effectively guide you in heal your rotator cuff tear. Get in touch with 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. More than two million people every year nationwide suffer a rotator cuff tear. If a rotator cuff tear is keeping you from playing the sports you once loved playing, or just making daily tasks painful, make 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 group of 4 tendons and muscles that maintains the stability and function between your humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder. As well as holding your shoulder in place, the rotator cuff lets you control the movement of your arm. For any functional endeavor needing use of your arm, the rotator cuff muscles function alongside other larger muscles in the shoulder and scapular area to raise or move the upper limb. It’s the teamwork between the rotator cuff and the larger, more powerful muscles, combined with the skeletal anatomy of the shoulder, that permits us the large scope of motion in the shoulder. The 4 tendons and muscles in the rotator cuff are:

1. The supraspinatus is a proportionately small muscle that keeps the humerus in place and is responsible for lifting your arm.
2. The infraspinatus is a deep triangular muscle behind the shoulder which aids 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 largest of the rotator cuff muscles. It helps you rotate your shoulder towards your body, as well as straighten and lower your arm.

Moving your arm or shoulder with an injured rotator cuff is painful if not impossible. A healthy rotator cuff requires balanced 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

The two principal causes of rotator cuff injuries are sudden injuries or gradual degeneration. Trauma can take place when you lift a heavy object or your arm is stretched too far. Degeneration happens because of overuse or general weakening of the muscles and tendons as you age. Whatever kind of pain or injury you are having in your shoulder, the Wilbur Park, MO rotator cuff experts at Axes physical are here to empower you as you recover.

There are three basic sorts of rotator cuff injuries:

1. Rotator cuff tears happen as a result 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 happen because of trauma, such as falling, but most rotator cuff tears are from overuse or repeating every day motions over time like throwing. They start with fraying and ultimately tear. Often, people with partial tears do not know they have them. Some chronic degeneration tears are only noticed after a minor injury.
2. Rotator cuff tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis), is inflammation, irritation or degeneration of one of the tendons attaching muscle to the bone. 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 transpires when the tendon of the rotator cuff becomes “impinged” during certain arm motions. Typically occurring with overhead activities. 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 some complete and partial tears of the rotator cuff may need surgery, a course of individualized physical therapy with an experienced physical therapist can decrease symptoms and ameliorate function considerably. Our Wilbur Park, 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 owning your local pick-up basketball league, painting your walls, or performing necessary daily tasks like brushing your teeth pain-free.

Rotator Cuff Tear | Axes Physical Therapy Wilbur Park, MO

Rotator Cuff Tear Causes and Risk Factors

A rotator cuff tear can be designated as one of the following:

• Acute Tears — This sort of rotator cuff tear occurs when you suffer a specific injury. Maybe you tried to lift something you shoulder could not support. Acute tears can also occur with other injuries to the shoulder, for example a broken collarbone or dislocated shoulder.
• Degenerative Tears — These can also be called chronic rotator cuff tears. Some common risk factors are:
  • Repetitive Activities — Repeating the same shoulder motions over time can lead to tendons fraying and tearing. This can transpire when you play a sport or engage in an activity frequently—like baseball, swimming, or weight lifting — or when your work requires you to perform a certain motion over and over.
  • Lack of Blood Flow — As we get older our body sends less blood to our rotator cuff, making it harder for the body to heal small tears, which can cause larger tears. The rotator cuff is infamous for its poor blood supply.
  • Bone Spurs — Bone overgrowth can also happen as we get older, and bone spurs can often occur on the underside of the acromion, which serves as the roof of your shoulder . Bone spurs can lead to impingement, which in turn leads to rotator cuff tears.

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. Sports and jobs that require heavy lifting are the most common causes for Wilbur Park, MO young people.

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

You may not always feel a rotator cuff tear, particularly if it happens slowly over time. Acute tears generally cause instant pain, but occasionally the symptoms are more subtle. Signs you might have a rotator cuff tear include:

• Trouble elevating your arm
• Pain or soreness with specific 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 usually lift

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s imperative that you reach out to a medical professional such as the Wilbur Park, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes Physical Therapy. We will work with your doctor 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 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 entirely recover from – or arthritis, which will have to be managed for the rest of your life. 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 grandkids over your head or swimming 400 meters.

Treatments for a Rotator Cuff Tear

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, you may be asking yourself what the most successful method 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 enough 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 cases with full-thickness tears or if the injury has failed to heal with conservative treatment. The expert 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:

• Soft Tissue Mobilization
• Post Surgical Rehabilitation
• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me

Receive Treatment for Your Rotator Cuff Tear Today | Axes Physical Therapy Wilbur Park, 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 professional and compassionate physical and occupational therapists who can safely and effectively guide you in your recovery. Each 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 on your way out. Contact us today by selecting the location nearest you or get a free injury screening to take the first step in getting back to the activities you love.