What we Treat / Shoulder Separation

A Shoulder Separation is a common shoulder injury in sports that produces immediate shoulder pain. The term Shoulder Separation refers to an injury of the ligaments at the Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint. The AC joint ligaments are most commonly damaged through a fall onto the tip of the shoulder, although in collision sports this force may come from an opponent. The impact forces the shoulder blade down and stretches the ligaments away from the collar bone. The Collar bone and Shoulder Blade become separated, hence the term 'Shoulder Separation'.

The injury can range from mild sprain of the ligaments, to severe sprain of the ligaments where the AC joint is slightly separated but still intact, to the most severe in which the ligaments of the AC joint are ruptured and there is a dislocation. In this situation, the collar bone becomes loose and can come to rest in several unorthodox positions.

In the acute stage of the injury, cold therapy is very helpful to relieve pain and reduce bleeding in the damaged tissue. Dependent on the level of injury, our Physios may also apply a taping technique (see taping and strapping), which will push the collar bone downwards and then place the shoulder in a sling and rest it. Whilst the shoulder is in a sling it is important to keep the fingers, wrist and elbow mobile by going through their full range of movement every four hours or so, this will be taught to you by the Physios. Strengthening exercises provided by the Physio, using resistance bands can be started so long as there is no pain.