​We've all seen it on TV before: a hockey player is checked into the boards, they get up grimacing and holding their shoulder and skate off the ice. The dreaded Separated Shoulder or 'Acromio-clavicular' joint sprain, which more commonly will occur after someone falls onto their shoulder from a height. What is this shoulder injury, and how is it different from a dislocation?

The acromio-clavicular joint is the connection between the collar-bone and the shoulder blade. When there is downward force applied to top of the shoulder blade, the ligaments holding this joint together will tear, causing a separation between the two bones. This is completely different from a dislocated shoulder, when the upper arm comes out of the shoulder socket.

Symptoms

After a shoulder separation a patient will commonly feel widespread pain, especially at night. Over time the pain will localize at the tip of the collarbone, often forming a step-like deformity. You will also find widespread weakness of the shoulder muscles along with swelling. These injuries are graded 1-6, depending on the extent of damage to the shoulder ligaments. Grades 1 - 3 can be treated conservatively with rehab, while Grades 4 - 6 usually require surgery.

Check back next week for how to treat shoulder separations:

As many of us know, sedentary activity is a massive health problem around the globe.  Businesses are finding new ways to alter how long workers are at their desks. A simple new strategy that is catching on is the 'Walking Meeting.' Instead of those never-ending meetings in the board-room, taking the meeting outside to increase standing-time. The video below outlines other benefits to this new strategy

If you have ever cracked your knuckles, have you ever wondered where the noise comes from? Similar noises occur when you turn your back, move your shoulder or during a chiropractic manipulation. Watch the following video for a great explanation as to what the 'crack' is.

A great illustrated video by Dr. Mike Evans, showing the main types of low back pain and their causes.