Physical Therapy in Verona, NJ

Are you living in the Verona, NJ, area and looking for help treating a recent acromioclavicular (AC) joint sprain? Look no further than Pro Staff Physical Therapy. We have a convenient location in Montclair, NJ to help meet all your shoulder needs. We specialize in treating any issue that you may be having with your AC joint from a sprain to arthritis. We understand how discomforting it is not to be able to fully use your shoulder for the things you love to do.

Our team believes in treating our patients beyond the initial symptoms and really dig into the root problem that has occurred. We hope to help you recover as quickly as possible while allowing you to achieve all your future movement goals.

What Causes an AC Joint Sprain?

The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is the joining of the scapula and the clavicle that come to meet in the front of the shoulder. This joint is important in allowing you to move through all overhead motions of the shoulder. The scapula and clavicle both move as part of the shoulder complex and, if this joint becomes irritated or immobile, it causes pain quickly.

Most AC joint sprains or separations are caused by a traumatic injury to the shoulder such as a fall or high impact collision in a sport. Because of the stable nature of the clavicle, it is important to treat this type of injury to not further increase your chance of arthritis in the future. As we age and this joint becomes less mobile and efficient, it can also cause issues within the AC joint.

When working with a physical therapist you will be able identify areas of weakness or lack of mobility within the shoulder and how to improve them based on your specific movement goals. We will also help you come up with exercises to help prevent it from happening again.

Common Symptoms of an AC Joint Sprain

• Pain over the top of the shoulder, at the level of the clavicle
• Swelling and deformity over the AC joint
• Pain with sleeping on the affected side
• Decreased strength of the entire upper extremity secondary to pain
• Decreased range of motion, especially movements overhead

How to Treat an AC Joint Sprain

After the initial injury, it is important to know the extent of injured tissue. When an injury to the AC joint occurs, there can be varying degrees of sprain or separation. After the initial healing process of the shoulder, it will be important to slowly introduce movement back into the joint.

This will involve specific exercises to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder and manual therapy to improve the mobility of the AC joint and overhead range of motion. We will collaborate with you on keeping your shoulder mobile through manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and movement-specific muscle re-education. The physical therapists at Pro Staff will help you along the way to better understand what is going on in your shoulder.

When Can I Return to My Sport?

Your recovery time will vary based on the type of sprain, degree of separation, and other general health related factors. Because the shoulder is used for all movements of the upper body it is essential that you allow it to heal properly.

Get Started Today

AC joint sprains and strains can be very frustrating to deal with. At Pro Staff Physical Therapy, we hope to help the community of Verona stay healthy and keep moving. If you are recovering from any AC joint related issues, come, check out our Montclair location. Contact our office at 973-680-8390 to schedule an appointment today.