Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries: Effective Rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: To perform a review of the literature focusing on rehabilitation protocols in patients with acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries treated operatively and nonoperatively and to provide an updated rehabilitation treatment algorithm.

Methods: Studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE database from 01/1995 to 09/2020. Included studies contained detailed rehabilitation protocols with physiologic rationale for AC joint injuries. Biomechanical studies, technique articles, radiographic studies, systematic reviews, case studies, editorials, and studies that compared nonoperative versus operative treatment without focus on rehabilitation were excluded. Following identification of the literature, an updated treatment algorithm was created.

Results: The search strategy yielded 1742 studies, of which 1654 studies were excluded based on title, 60 on the abstract, and 25 on the full manuscript. One study was manually identified using article reference lists, yielding four publications presenting detailed rehabilitation protocols based on physiologic rationale. No randomized controlled trials or comparative studies were identified or cited as a basis for these rehabilitation protocols.

Conclusion: Few detailed rehabilitation protocols in patients with AC joint injuries have been published. These protocols are limited by their standardization, arbitrary timelines, and provide minimal assessment of individual patient characteristics. The quality of patient care can be improved with more practical guidelines that are goal-oriented and allow for critical thinking among clinicians to address individual patient needs. Three common barriers preventing successful rehabilitation were identified and addressed: Pain, Apprehension, and (anterior chest wall) Stiffness to regain Scapular control, effectively termed "PASS" for AC joint rehabilitation.

Clinical relevance: Rehabilitation protocols for AC joint injuries should be less formulaic and instead allow for critical thinking and effective communication among clinicians and therapists to address individual patient needs.

Keywords: AC joint; acromioclavicular joint; physical therapy; rehabilitation.