Can you play sports with a separated shoulder?

Athletes with shoulder separations may be limited from sports participation for several weeks after the injury. Return to sport depends on the severity of the injury. In general, athletes may return to play when pain improves, shoulder movement is normal, and arm strength is normal.

What exercises can I do with AC joint injury?

AC joint recovery exercises may include:

• Neck rotation.
• Shoulder rolls.
• Neck stretches.
• Shoulder blade squeeze.
• Laying down shoulder flexion.
• Standing shoulder extension.
• Goalpost stretch.

Can I lift with AC joint sprain?

Motions that are usually most difficult after an AC joint injury are reaching across your body and lifting your arm directly overhead. While it is important to regain your normal shoulder motion, it is also important to allow your injury to heal without placing excessive stress on the healing joint.

Can you play with an AC separation?

Point tenderness to the AC joint and the mechanism of injury may help to confirm the diagnosis of AC joint separation. What’s unique about this injury is that most players are able to play through it if it’s only a low grade sprain.

Can I run with an AC joint injury?

The patient is allowed to return to sports when there is full and painless range of motion, no more tenderness when the AC joint is touched, and manual traction does not cause pain. This usually takes about 2 weeks for a grade I injury, 6 weeks for a grade II injury, and up to 12 weeks for a grade III injury.

Will AC joint bump go away?

The ligaments heal in this position, so the bump does not go away. It is possible to have surgery to correct the bump. But normal shoulder function will usually return even without surgery.

Can a separated shoulder get worse?

Leaving your AC joint injury untreated means your condition can worsen, which can have serious consequences, such as: Severe shoulder separation. Serious displacement or collarbone fracture. Arthritis in your shoulder.

How serious is an AC joint injury?

Mild injuries are not associated with any significant morbidity, but severe injuries can lead to significant loss of strength and function of the shoulder. Acromioclavicular injuries may be associated with a fractured clavicle, impingement syndromes, and more rarely neurovascular insults.

Can I work out with a separated AC joint?

Rest includes avoiding overhead reaching, reaching across the chest, lifting, leaning on the elbows, and sleeping directly on the shoulder. Range-of-motion exercises are recommended as soon as they can be tolerated. Range-of-motion exercises — Range-of-motion exercises are recommended early in the recovery period.

Can weightlifting cause AC joint separation?

It is most often linked to repetitive strain from lifting very heavy weights on a regular basis – especially if you’ve ramped the weight up quite quickly. This causes the ligaments and connective tissue that stabilise the AC joint to strain.

Does the bump from a separated shoulder go away?

Most people will get back to normal arm and shoulder function, but a bump in your shoulder may remain. If you have a mild shoulder separation, you may completely recover within a few weeks. More severe injuries may need more time to heal.