AC Joint Injuries and Treatments
What and Where is the AC Joint?
The acromio-clavicular or AC joint is the joint between your collarbone and the top of your shoulder. When you put your hand on top of your shoulder you may feel a "bony bump". This is where your AC Joint is. The AC joint helps you move your arm overhead or across your body. Your AC joint also assists with everyday movements such as pulling or lifting.
Common AC joint injuries
AC joint sprain
This occurs when the ligaments surrounding the joint become stretched or overextended. The range and severity of the injury can vary, from a mild strain to a complete ligament tear resulting in severe pain.
Sudden impact during sport
This can occur when a player collides with another or if a sportsperson falls on their shoulder during a tackle, for example.
Falling with an outstretched arm
This can cause damage to the ligaments around the AC joint.
AC Joint Injury Symptoms
Swelling in the shoulder area
Inability to move your shoulder and a loss of the power in the arm
Bruising may occur around the injured area
Pain on the shoulder especially when you try to move your arm overhead or across your body
A hard lump may appear on the top of the shoulder which may indicate that the collar bone has become displaced.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
With an AC Joint injury, physiotherapy is an indispensable and an essential part of the recovery programme. If you have had surgery, physiotherapy will also form part of your post-surgery recovery.
At Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic we will work with you to:
Reduce swelling
Ease pain
Regain strength in your shoulder area
Help shoulder and blade alignment
Get range of motion back to normal levels
Whatever the level of your AC joint injury, the experts at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, will help you return to sport or everyday exercise in a safe and sustainable manner. Contact us or book an appointment online and we'll help you recover from what can be a painful injury.
FAQ
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Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury. Mild AC joint injuries may improve within a few weeks, while more severe injuries can take several months to fully recover.
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Yes. Many AC joint injuries can be successfully treated without surgery through rest, activity modification and physiotherapy. More severe injuries may require further medical assessment.
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You can usually return to sport when you have regained normal or near-normal shoulder movement and strength and can perform sport-specific movements without significant pain. Your physiotherapist can advise you on a safe return.
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You should consider seeing a physiotherapist if you have ongoing shoulder pain, swelling, reduced movement or difficulty returning to your normal activities or sport. A physiotherapist can assess the injury and guide your recovery.
Physiotherapy
We specialise in the treatment and prevention of injuries and conditions. If you are suffering with any health aliments that you feel we could help you with, get in touch today. We provide treatment for a wide age range from 9 years to 90 years old.