We see more and more injuries to the shoulder in young athletes as soccer participation grows and the sport’s roughness rises.
Clavicle fractures, AC joint separations, and shoulder dislocations are three of the most common upper extremity injuries we see from soccer players.
What Exactly Is The Ac Joint?
The AC joint, also known as the acromioclavicular joint, is the shoulder where two bones meet. The clavicle, or collarbone, is one of these bones. The second bone is the shoulder blade (scapula), the huge bone behind the shoulder that makes up the shoulder joint. The acromion is the part of the shoulder blade that touches the clavicle. The AC joint is where the clavicle joins the acromion as a result. There is cartilage between the two bones, the white tissue that lets them move on one other, like Teflon on two ball bearings, like most joints in the body where bones meet.
Why Are Ac Joint Injuries So Common In Soccer Players?
The acromion, or scapula’s bony process, and the clavicle, or collarbone, make up the AC joint. Apart from the soft tissue connections, it is the only link between your shoulder and the rest of your body.
Most AC joint injuries in football happen during a game when a player is hit and thrown to the ground by the impacting force of the ground beneath you and the other player on top of you. The soft tissue connections can rip, separating if the tackle exerts much force. Injuries like these are tough to avoid in a contact sport like soccer.
Rehabilitation And Treatment
An extensive round of ice and compression to the shoulder should be performed as the first treatment. Physical therapy can begin as soon as the next day to avoid strength loss as possible. It regulates the inflammatory reaction to the injury and preserves rotator cuff and periscapular strength to assist and stabilize the shoulder. Open and closed chain rotator cuff activation and strengthening exercises are likely to be included in the program. While the shoulder recovers, the player will continue to conduct cardio and lower body activity.
Injuries To Ac Joints Come In A Variety Of Shapes And Sizes
Type I
The acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments are not torn in Type I because the force applied is too light. It will cause an acromioclavicular joint sprain, which will cause pain but not cause a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint.
Type II
The AC ligaments rupture when the shoulder is subjected to more force, but the coracoclavicular ligaments remain intact (but sprained). The lateral clavicle becomes more prominent as a result of these injuries.
Type III
The AC and coracoclavicular ligaments are fully disrupted by force applied to the shoulder, resulting in complete separation of the clavicle and a protrusion or “bump.”
Type IV
When the clavicle is displaced posteriorly through the trapezius muscle, this is known as type IV clavicle buttonholing.
Type V
The clavicle is widely dislocated due to disrupted muscular attachments in Type V.
Type VI
The distal clavicle is inferiorly displaced below the acromial or coracoid processes in Type VI (rare).
The Dangers Of Ignoring An Ac Joint Injury
Many of the symptoms listed above are dismissed as normal pain or discomfort with age or playing a tough activity. If you don’t get treatment for your AC joint injury, your condition will deteriorate, which can lead to major problems such as:
- Arthritis in your shoulder
- Damage in nearby joints, like your rotator cuff
- Severe shoulder separation
- Serious displacement or collarbone fracture
In an injury, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. You can expect full healing with medical intervention and treatment.
Is Physical Therapy A Good Idea?
Your doctor will work with you to build a personalized recovery plan once you are diagnosed with an AC joint injury. Most people with AC joint injuries feel better within a few days or a week following the accident. But the AC ligaments can take up to six weeks to fully recover. It’s critical to relieve the pressure on the AC joint to avoid overstretching the juvenile scar tissue. While a sling, tape, or shoulder brace might help you unload your AC joint, physical therapy will be the most effective way to heal from an AC joint injury.
Final Thought!
See an orthopedic surgeon specializing in treating shoulder and sports injuries if you have shoulder problems or think you have suffered one of these injuries during a game or practice.
You may also read our blog on MUSCLE CRAMPS IN YOUNG ATHLETES: PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
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