This week, we are looking at Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries - a frequent diagnosis after acute shoulder trauma and very common among athletic populations. The AC joint — along with ligaments — connects your collarbone and shoulder blade. In an injury to the AC joint, the join separates and causes damage to one or more of the four ligaments that keep it in place. The AC joint is commonly injured from an impact to the point of the shoulder. This impact may be with a stationary object, like a wall or floor, or with a moving object, such as a clash with an opponent during a sports match. It is mostly seen in sports such as football, rugby, mountain biking, horse riding, snowboarding and motocross. The impact sometimes seen in these sports can push the top of the shoulder blade underneath the end of the collarbone and this then injures the capsule surrounding the AC joint and the ligaments which support the joint. AC joint injury symptoms
Pain
Limited motion in the shoulder
Swelling
Bruising
Tenderness at the top of the shoulder
Physiotherapy for an AC joint injury is very important. It is advised that all AC joint injuries are fully assessed as a proportion of AC joint injuries can result in longer-term effects. A therapist can advise on how long it may take to heal and provide an appropriate treatment program – including exercises, advice on postural alignment and Kinesio Taping. Kinesio Taping is often applied to provide support and assist with reducing associated pain and swelling. The recommended application for this type of injury is shown in the image provided at the end of this post. Kinesio would advise visiting a therapist, in the first instance, so that they can provide a full assessment and show you how to apply the tape for your specific injury. If you are unable to see a therapist at the moment, you can also try Kinesio’s Pre-cut Shoulder application. The pack comes with pre-cut tape and instructions.
You can purchase rolls of Kinesio Tape and pre-cut packs on our website (http://bit.ly/38ejoRa), or through online retailers – including Amazon.
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