Don't Ignore Your AC Joint Injury
Physical Therapy May Be the Answer
If you’ve experienced an AC joint injury, don’t wait to seek treatment. Physical therapy is a viable option for rehabilitating your shoulder and returning it to full functionality without further injury. While shoulder injuries are common, they can be tricky to heal the longer you wait! See how Pinnacle Physical Therapy can help you recover faster than if you went without treatment.
Diagnosing an AC Joint Injury
Sometimes, when you first notice pain and swelling in your shoulder or elbow, it’s hard to tell whether you have a bone injury or an AC joint issue. But if you think there may be damage to your AC joint, go to a physical therapist for evaluation as soon as possible.
Your therapist will start by asking questions about your injury—when it happened, what caused it, and how much pain you’re experiencing.
They will also examine your arm and shoulder using hands-on tests like range of motion assessments.
Finally, if all signs point toward an AC joint injury, therapy is often your best and least invasive option for relief. Once you have a diagnosis, you should not delay treatment!
The Risks of Delaying Treatment
The diagnosis of an AC joint injury can be a scary prospect. However, don’t rush to surgery without exploring other options. If your doctor wants you to see a physical therapist immediately, there is likely a good reason why. They know that physical therapy can help expedite your healing process.
Even if it's not severe, an AC joint sprain can take as long as 6 weeks to heal on its own, which could lead to long-term complications and loss of range of motion in your shoulder.
In addition, because most people are active and need their arms to perform daily tasks, failure to treat an AC joint injury may result in pain that interferes with work or school. In some cases, patients have even reported being unable to raise their arms above their heads.
As such, physical therapy helps speed up recovery time so you can return to normal activities sooner rather than later.
Treat Your Own Shoulder
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Why choose Pinnacle Physical Therapy?
If you've experienced an acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury, you likely have a lot of questions about what to do next. Fortunately, Pinnacle Physical Therapy in Little Rock offers a number of solutions to help patients with their AC joint pain.
Call our office today to schedule an appointment! One of our friendly staff members will assist you in scheduling a convenient time for your initial assessment.