Guidelines for Treating a Separated Shoulder
The human body has several flexible joints that enable us to move, and damage to probably our most mobile joint results in an injury called a separated shoulder. Commonly seen as a sports injury, this condition isn’t actually in the shoulder although is a result of a direct fall or blow to the shoulder.
Incredibly amazing and complex, our bodies have extreme range of motion to help propel us through the maze of life. Bending, twisting, turning and rotating motions are all part of the human physical structure, all due to the fact we are jointed. Joints are the connective points between bones and muscles, and are classified by the type of movement they provide; immovable, partially moveable and fully moveable. The major joints of the body are fully moveable, and are found at the elbow, hip, ankle, knee, wrist and shoulder. The knee and elbow joints operate on a movement similar to that of a door hinge, but the hip and shoulder joints are those which allow the greatest range of motion as they are of the ball and socket type. The shoulder provides the most freedom and flexibility of all joints; allowing movement to occur in virtually any direction possible. It does this through the manipulation of the acromioclavicular joint, better known as the AC joint.
Found at the base of the collarbone or clavicle, the joint connects the shoulder blade to the collarbone. In a separated shoulder injury, the area affected is at the top of the shoulder where these two bones meet. Most often, this injury is the result when an individual experiences a fall directly on the shoulder; a blow which damages the ligaments that encase and secures the acromioclavicular joint. If the ligaments that connect to the base of the collarbone are damaged enough to tear, a separation of the collarbone and the shoulder blade is the result. In mild cases, the fall may only “sprain” the ligament; the most drastic case will involve tears of both the acromioclavicular and the coracoclavicular ligaments.
In cases where the damage to the AC ligament is minimal such as a sprain, generally the injury will heal on its own with some care. Placing the arm in a sling and applying cold packs to the shoulder will minimize the amount of motion the shoulder can perform, allowing the ligaments to mend. Medications to ease the pain during this time can prove to be helpful. In most instances, individuals will have a return to full function of the AC joint.
When the AC ligament or both the AC and the CC ligaments experience tears, the injury may require additional treatment. These issues can move the collarbone, as well as the AC joint, out of position. More pain during rehabilitation may be felt, due to a rubbing of the two bones when the joint is put into use. In addition, there will likely be a deformity at the top of the shoulder that may inhibit normal function of the joint. In these cases, surgery may be a consideration. Depending on the extent of the injury, surgery may involve shaving the end of the collarbone to stop contact or it could mean that the ligaments that connect to the underside of the collarbone will undergo reconstruction. In any case, the shoulder should be well rested in order to allow it to heal and regain its original motion and flexibility.
Because we depend so much on our jointed body parts, experiencing a separated shoulder is not only painful but debilitating as well until the body has had the opportunity to heal. Taking the proper steps to help the injury mend will mean a return to normal function much more quickly.