A few weeks ago we discussed the difference between a shoulder
'separation' and 'dislocation.' In this blog we'll talk about what to do with that painful separated AC joint. Even with the 'step-deformity' typically seen with an AC joint injury, you generally manage these the same if they are mild injuries. In the acute phase of 1 to 4 days you want to immobilize the area and make it as comfortable as possible (like most acute injuries). You'll ice the area, use a shoulder splint, and use pain relief as needed. If there is a lot of swelling and bruising, it can be useful to apply athletic tape and kinesiology tape over the area to promote recycling of fluid. As soon as this phase is over, you need to get the shoulder moving immediately. This happens in the form of 'Isometric' exercises where you keep your shoulder in a neutral position and press into a steady object such as a wall or piece of furniture. You can still wear a shoulder sling, however we encourage patients to use it only when you really have to. Continued immobilization will limit the speed of your recovery. After 1 - 2 weeks, with the aid of a rehab specialist you will get the range of motion back to normal, using manual therapy, as well as exercises such as 'wall-walks' and ' dowel-asisted movements'. When range of motion is full, you add weighted exercises, and finally sport-specific exercises. Full recovery of a mild AC joint injury can be as little as two weeks, recovery of more serious injuries can take 4-6 weeks. Precautions need to be taken after the initial injury to modify activities or wear protective equipment during activities. Overall AC joint injuries are relatively straight forward to manage, consult your go-to rehab specialist for details, or contact our office for more questions!.
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Milner Chiropractic and Sports Injury Clinic
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