AC Joint Injury By Eric Hunter Causes of

AC Joint Injury By Eric Hunter

Causes of AC Joint Injury • Athletes that suffer AC Joint Injuries – Football players, Soccer players, mountain biking, wrestlers, etc… • Mechanism of injury – Falling on the tip of the shoulder – FOOSH

AC Joint Injury Signs and Symptoms • Pain • Point tenderness • Arm hanging to side • Deformity • Laxity

AC Joint Anatomy

AC Joint Injury

AC Joint Evaluation • Sulcus Sgin – Patient sits with arm hanging to the side. – Apply an inferior force to arm and look for separation of the acromion from the clavicle.

AC Joint Evaluation Cont. • Piano Key Sign – Apply downward pressure to the distal clavicle looking for depression when the pressure is applied and then elevation when the pressure is released. • Horizontal ADD – Have the patient actively flex the shoulder then bring the arm across the body.

Rehabilitation of AC Joint Injury • Non-surgical – Grades 1 and 2 – Period of immobilization – Proceed with rehabilitation activities as tolerated • ROM first until pain free then strengthening exercises • Surgical – Grade 3 – Major deformity – Longer time until rehabilitation activities are started

Citation • Starkey, C. , Brown, S. D. , & Ryan, J. L. (2009). Examination of orthopedic and athletic injuries. (3 ed. ) F A Davis Co. • "Shoulder Separation. " American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. AAOS, Oct 2007. Web. 18 Nov 2012. <http: //orthoinfo. aaos. org/topic. cfm? topic=a 00033>.