What is the AC joint? It is the acromio-clavicular joint. This is the joint between the collarbone and the shoulder blade (scapula).
Why does this joint give us problems? The weight of the arm is mostly transmitted through this joint, to the chest. The arm weighs anything from 5-10kg depending on your weight. If we use our arm above shoulder height it places even more pressure on the joint that is no bigger than 2x2cm².
We therefor develop wear and tear of the ac joint very easily. The joint also forms bony outgrowths that is very irritating to the surrounding tissue and muscles. The joint itself also causes pain because of the arthritis of it.
How do we treat it? If the ac joint is not very damaged inside the pain and irritation can be eliminated with a cortisone injection into the joint.
If that doesn’t work one can clear out the joint with the arthroscope (ac joint excision).
At the same time that one removes the ac joint, an inspection of the shoulder joint itself and the bony overhang (acromion) is also performed.
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