The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is where the acromion process of the shoulder blade meets the clavicle, better known as the collarbone – it is often identified as the pointy bone on the top of your shoulder. This joint is commonly injured in contact sports when there is a direct force to the side of the shoulder. Examples resulting in an AC joint injury would be a hit in hockey or fall onto the ground. A lot of the time, it feels like the affected shoulder is dislocated or loose due to the small ligaments being stretched out. People often perceive an AC joint injury as a “separated shoulder” but it depends on the grade of injury ranging from grade 1 to grade 6. Healing time for this condition is highly variable based on the degree of injury – grade 1 is the least severe involving stretched ligaments and grade 6 is the most severe often requiring surgery due to clavicular fracture and torn ligaments. With lower grade AC joint injuries, the athletic population may continue to participate in their sport within pain management levels but also may experience weakness or difficulty moving the affected arm. Typically, movements involving shoulder flexion and/or adduction (bringing the shoulder in front of/across the body) cause the worst pain since they cause a pinching sensation in the front of the shoulder. Athletic therapists and physiotherapists are able to assess the shoulder to determine a diagnosis and further refer to medical doctors if they deem necessary. Early rehabilitation for AC joint injuries is crucial in order to regain full pain-free range of motion before moving into strengthening and stability exercises to prevent re-injury.
If you or someone you know has been having shoulder pain, reach out to us and we’ll get you booked in with our athletic therapist or one of our physiotherapists to get you back on track!