The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a common injury that can limit your ability to perform daily chores because it can be excruciating. It is an injury of the top part of your shoulder where the acromion attaches or meets with the clavicle, also known as the collarbone. While athletes and fitness enthusiasts are more likely to suffer this injury, any person can sustain an acromioclavicular joint injury.
If you are here, chances are you or a loved one has a painful AC joint that needs treatment to alleviate the discomfort. Regardless of the cause, surgery is usually unnecessary to treat this issue. A skilled physical therapist can help identify and treat your AC joint injury to reduce the bothersome pain and restore your shoulder strength and mobility.
However, the rule of thumb is to have your AC joint injury diagnosed by a specialist as soon as possible. At Suarez Physical Therapy, we have well-trained and experienced physical therapists ready to use their hands-on skills and care to help restore your health if you have an AC joint injury.
If you need physical therapy services to help your AC joint injury in Las Vegas, you can count on your profound and credible physical therapists.
Acromioclavicular Joint Injury at a Glance
The AC joint is a vital component of the function and structure of your shoulder joint. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, this joint sits at the top of your shoulder where the acromion (shoulder blade) meets your collarbone (clavicle).
Unfortunately, the strong ligaments (coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular) and capsules supporting this joint are prone to injuries. When this injury occurs, these crucial ligaments become strained, causing AC joint separation to some extent.
The AC joint provides stability and a wide range of motion around the shoulder, which is vital for arm mobility and functions. Unfortunately, when an injury causes joint dislocation, arm mobility becomes limited. Exercising or performing daily house chores after this injury can be challenging.
Depending on the severity of the injury, physical therapy could be the only solution you need to fix your AC joint injury and resume everyday life, offering hope and optimism for a full recovery.
Types of AC Joint Injury
About thirteen million people suffer from shoulder pain, and about thirty-one percent of them have AC joint pain caused by either trauma or excessive joint use. Below are two types of injuries that could occur at your AC joint:
-
A Traumatic Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
Also known as shoulder separation, traumatic AC joint injury happens when this joint is displaced, primarily due to damage to the ligaments that connect these two bones of this joint. It is worth noting that this injury differs from shoulder dislocation, which mainly involves your shoulder's ball-and-socket joint.
An AC joint injury is more likely to occur to any person who falls and lands on his/her hand or the outside of his/her shoulder. For example, when:
-
A bicyclist falls off his/her bicycle
-
A football or rugby play is tackled
-
A painter falls off their ladder
-
A downhill skier tumbles
Depending on the degree of shoulder joint separation caused, a traumatic AC joint injury could be graded as either mild or severe. For mild cases, a reliable physical therapist can help fix the issue. However, if the injury is severe, surgery could be necessary before enrolling in physical therapy sessions to help regain mobility.
-
An Overuse AC Joint Injury
Also known as repeated AC joint injury, overuse AC joint injury happens over an extended period due to repeated motions or excessive stress on this joint. While the cartilage that protects your clavicle and acromion from wear and tear is strong, it can tear when exposed to undue stress or strain over time, leading to overuse AC joint injury.
Since it can be excruciating, an overuse or repetitive AC joint injury can limit your shoulder's range of motion, limiting your ability to perform daily chores. Some of the common causes of this injury include the following:
-
Incorrect postures during sports, work, or daily activities
-
Poor or wrong technique of weight lifting
-
Repetitive overhead activities, like throwing a basketball
In older individuals, acromioclavicular joint injury could also be due to osteoarthritis. If the AC joints and shoulders are mobile and strong, this could be a normal and natural sign of aging and will rarely cause symptoms or any discomfort.
Common Symptoms Associated With AC Joint Injury
Like most injuries, an AC joint injury can cause several symptoms, indicating you should seek the services of a medical expert as soon as possible. Below are some of the symptoms that can tell you that you have an acromioclavicular joint injury:
-
Reduced shoulder motion
-
Loss or reduced shoulder strength
-
Pain and swelling of the affected shoulder
-
Tenderness over your AC joint
-
A noticeable bump above the affected shoulder
-
Discomfort when performing your daily activities
-
Popping sounds when you move the affected shoulder
If you have these symptoms, you should visit a physical therapist to help determine whether you have an acromioclavicular joint injury and recommend appropriate treatment. Diagnosing this injury will begin with a brief review of your medical record and several questions about what aggravates or reduces the pain.
As part of the diagnosis, your dentist could also ask you to demonstrate or show them the position that aggravates or reduces your shoulder pain. While the physical therapist can help you identify whether you have an AC joint injury through physical examination of your shoulder, diagnostic imaging techniques like X-rays and MRIs can help confirm their diagnosis and the extent of the injury.
What AC Joint Injury Treatment Entails
The treatment of an AC joint injury depends on the severity of the condition. After diagnosis, your physical therapist will collaborate to create a specialized treatment plan for your unique condition and goals. A physical therapist could offer a variety of treatments to help manage your AC injury and associated symptoms, but his/her treatment program will mainly focus on:
Range of Motion Exercises
After sustaining an AC joint injury, your arm's mobility will be affected, affecting your ability to perform daily chores. During your treatment, the physical therapist will focus on helping you regain your range of motion in the affected shoulder through gentle physical exercises. These exercises help prevent shoulder stiffness and maintain joint functions.
Examples of gentle exercises the physical therapist could recommend to help restore or improve your range of motion around your shoulder include the following:
-
Goalpost stretch
-
Shoulder rolls
-
Neck rotation
-
Neck stretches
The therapist will advise you to refrain from activities that can exert stress on the affected AC joint to give the shoulder ample time to heal.
Pain Management
Your treatment plan should include pain management since an AC joint injury is also painful. Initial steps for alleviating the bothersome pain and swelling include taking anti-inflammatory medicines and applying ice to the affected section of your shoulder. After pointing out the cause, your therapist could also recommend modifying the possible activities causing the issue.
If your injury is caused by repetitive overhead activities, like throwing a ball, the physical therapist could recommend switching techniques.
Manual Therapy
A reliable physical therapist must have excellent manual, hands-on skills to help patients manage pain and other bothersome symptoms associated with injuries. If necessary, your therapist will use his/her hands to gently move and stretch the affected shoulder joint to improve your flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
Strength Training
Aside from causing AC joint problems, muscle imbalances and weakness can also alleviate the symptoms of this problem. Depending on the seriousness of your injury, the physical therapist can help design a strength and resistance training program to help with your recovery.
Generally speaking, maintaining the strength of your upper body muscles through physical exercises like shoulder presses can help prevent shoulder injuries and increase the efficiency of your shoulder joints. Your therapist will also choose ideal exercises you can perform depending on your age, diagnosis, and injury severity.
Even if it could be tempting to resume heavy weight lifting with time, doing so without consulting your physical therapist is unwise. Your therapist will tell you when it is ideal and safe to resume your usual exercises at the gym or home.
Functional Training
Functional training is required to help your shoulder function in various positions because the AC joint is usually a tiny joint that occasionally needs to support a large load. For instance, when doing some overhead weight lifting, poor form or technique could cause you to exert unnecessary stress on your AC joint.
Therefore, as part of your treatment, a reliable physical therapist must focus on functional training to help fix the specific movements causing excessive strain on your AC joint.
Education
Understanding your AC joint injury is the first step to recovery. The physical therapist you choose will help you comprehend how the AC joint functions and activities that could be causing excessive stress or injury to the joint. This crucial information or new knowledge can help you make informed choices and decisions about your daily activities.
Tips on How to Prevent AC Joint Injury
As they say, prevention is better than cure, particularly when it comes to joint injuries. Regardless of the part of the body, any joint injury can be painful and affect your everyday activities. While it could be challenging to prevent traumatic acromioclavicular joint injuries, repetitive AC joint injuries are preventable. Below are helpful tips on how to avoid AC joint injury:
-
Monitor your weightlifting or work activities
-
Avoid repetitive overhead lifting, as you can
-
Listen to your body and pay attention to the discomfort you feel when performing your daily duties or exercises
-
Demonstrate excellent form when lifting your weights at the gym
-
Maintain adequate shoulder motion and strength through the recommended exercises
-
Consult with your physical therapist when symptoms are extreme or persistent
-
Wear appropriate protective gear during sporting activities
Other Alternative Treatments That Can Help Fix AC Joint Injury
If physical therapy is not an excellent remedy for your AC joint injury, your physical therapist could recommend any of the following alternative treatments:
Medications
If you have an AC joint injury, your doctor could recommend over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the bothersome pain. Noninflammatory drugs like celecoxib and Naproxen could also help reduce inflammation and pain caused by the injury.
In severe injury cases, your pain doctor could recommend prescription drugs for short-term use. For the effectiveness of these medications, you must stick to the dosage instructions and doctor's advice.
Surgery
Surgery could be necessary if the AC joint injury is severe. That is particularly true if there is a significant joint displacement, ligament damage, or deformity that you cannot fix using other conservative treatments like medication or physical therapy.
Other factors like dysfunction, persistent pain, or inability to perform your daily activities could also necessitate surgery to fix your injury and ensure proper shoulder functions. Below are different types of surgical procedures your surgeon could recommend:
-
Ligament repair surgery — The purpose of this surgery is to suture injured ligaments back together for proper functionality and movement of your shoulder
-
Reconstruction repair surgery — During this surgery, your surgeon will likely use grafts extracted from compatible parts of your body to replace or restore your damaged ligaments
Surgical fixation methods, like synthetic materials, pins, and screws, could also be necessary to help stabilize your joint. The specific surgery procedure that your surgeon will recommend will depend on the severity of your injury and other individual factors.
How long it will take to recover after this surgery depends on the severity of your injury. If your injury is non-severe, you should expect recovery within a few weeks if you follow your surgeon's advice. However, severe AC joint injuries could require a couple of months to heal after the surgery. Ensure you speak with your doctor or surgeon before you return to your usual daily activities after the surgery.
Factors to Consider When Looking for a Physical Therapist to Help Treat Your AC Joint Injury
When looking for a physical therapist to help diagnose and fix your AC joint injury, your options could be endless. While several physical therapists are in this industry, not all have the skills and knowledge to treat these delicate injuries.
To avoid settling for the services of a mediocre expert, you would want to consider the following factors when looking for a reliable physical therapist to help treat your AC joint injury:
Whether He/She is Reputable
The reputation of your prospective physical therapist speaks volumes about his/her quality of services. Ensure the therapist you choose has a credible and positive reputation among his/her past clients.
Thankfully, you can check the website of your potential physical therapist to see how well-regarded they are by looking at their previous client testimonials. If his/her past client comments about his/her quality of services or pricing are negative, you should take that as a red flag and find a different, reliable expert.
Your friends' and colleagues' recommendations can also help you find a reputable physical therapist without hassle.
His/her Qualifications and Experience
After completing extensive coursework and gaining clinical experience, all physical therapists are equipped to treat various ailments and injuries. A physical therapist who is well-trained and board-certified will know how to diagnose and the best approach to treat your unique AC joint injury and manage the symptoms caused by this injury.
The experience of your prospective physical therapist also goes a long way if you are looking for dependable physical therapy services. A physical therapist who has helped patients with similar injuries in the past will know the best approach to help fix your problem for the pain-free and comfortable life you deserve.
His/her Availability and Accessibility
Ensure the physical therapist you choose has a flexible work schedule. If you choose a physical therapist with several clients in line, chances are he/she will not dedicate ample time to your treatment needs for quick and optimal recovery. While having several clients in line is an indicator that the services of your prospective therapist are reliable, having to wait when you have a severe AC joint injury is not worth it.
The sooner you receive the treatment, the better because it allows you to resume your usual duties as soon as possible. Additionally, your prospective therapist's location is equally important. For quick treatment and to reduce the hassle of traveling to receive treatment for your AC joint injury, you should find a therapist within your location.
Whether He/She is Licensed
Finally, like any other medical services provider or businessperson, a physical therapist must secure a practice license before he/she begins offering physical therapy services to the public. If your prospective physical therapist is unlicensed, you should treat that as a red flag and find a different licensed expert for the best physical therapy services you deserve.
Find a Skilled Physical Therapist Near Me
An AC joint injury can undoubtedly alter your life because it can make it challenging to perform your daily chores and duties. That is particularly true if your job requires lifting objects or twisting machinery. If you have an AC joint injury, our reliable physical therapists at Suarez Physical Therapy would be glad to help.
If you have an AC joint injury, we invite you to call us at 702-368-6778 for a cost-free consultation with our experienced physical therapist, wherever you are in Las Vegas.
