Acromioclavicular joint pain

Acromioclavicular joint pain is a pain in the Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ). This is one of the joint in your shoulder complex. Your shoulder complex and consists of 3 bones, arm bone(Humerus), shoulder blade(Scapula) and the collar bone(clavicle). ACJ is at the top of the shoulder where your shoulder blade meets the collar bone. Ligaments hold these bones together. Ligaments are soft tissues that connect bones together.

Cause of Acromioclavicular joint Pain

Pain in the ACJ can be due to 2 reasons one is traumatic and the other is degeneration. Trauma to the ACJ /ACJ separation is common in direct fall on the shoulder. Such an injury causes sprain to the ligaments that connects the two bones. The injury is graded depending on the amount the joint has moved. In other words, based on the degree of injury to the ligaments that stabilizes the joint. There could be joint sprain or dislocation.

In case of degeneration there will be thinning of the cartilage and bony spurs. This in turn restricts the mobility of the joint. This is common in people who does repeated overhead or cross body activities using their arms.

Symptoms of Acromioclavicular joint

When the joint is injured or in degeneration you feel pain on the top and side of the shoulder especially when reaching up high or across the body.

In case of trauma you can have mild tenderness to intense pain depending on the severity. There may be pain in your neck and deltoid muscle which is on your upper arm. The ACJ may become swollen. The Injury is graded depending on the severity and the torn ligaments.

Treatment for Acromioclavicular joint Pain

In case of trauma, if there is no severe instability the initial management is conservative treatment with immobilisation with sling and Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy management for ACJ pain includes taping, cryotherapy, moist heat, electro therapy, acupuncture, exercises to increase range of motion in the shoulder, stretching, strengthening exercises, stabilization exercises and manual therapy. Your Physiotherapist will show you how to keep your shoulder moving, but avoiding pain at the same time. Once there is stability in the joint and range of movement is full the strengthening exercises are further progressed to functional or sports specific skills.

Immediate Help through Physiotherapy for Acromioclavicular joint pain:

Have you been experiencing aching pain in the shoulder area after any activity? Or pain in the neck after turning bed to one side? Pain in upper arm while lifting anything? Or pain in the shoulder when you turn the head? Or you may have questions if shoulder has dislocated?

At Curezone Physiotherapy, our shoulder pain experts in Mississauga and Oakville aim to improve shoulder muscle strength and flexibility through targeted shoulder muscle pain stretches, shoulder pain relief exercises and shoulder stretches to relieve shoulder pain. If you are looking for Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy Mississauga or Oakville, or the Shoulder Pain Physiotherapy NEAR ME, look no further! We aim to be YOUR best physiotherapist in Mississauga and Oakville areas, and are here and ready to teach you the best exercises and stretches for shoulder pain.

We welcome you to call us or click below to book an appointment with one of our expert physiotherapists to let us immediately start assisting you in your road to recovery.

Shoulder Pain Treatment Mississauga:

Physiotherapy Clinic Mississauga – Curezone Physiotherapy, Heartland Mississauga.

Physiotherapy Clinic Erin Mills – Curezone Physiotherapy, Erin Mills Mississauga.

Shoulder Pain Treatment Oakville:

Physiotherapy Clinic Oakville – Curezone Physiotherapy, Burloak Oakville.