Shoulder

AC Joint Sprain

Also called: Separated shoulder

Injury to the joint where collarbone meets shoulder blade — the point of the shoulder — from falling directly onto it (cycling, football, snowboarding). Graded 1–6 by ligament damage and displacement; the common lower grades heal reliably without surgery.

Common signs

Pain at the very top point of the shoulder after a direct fall
A visible bump or step-off at the joint (higher grades)
Pain reaching across the body or overhead
Tender precisely on the AC joint

Seek help now if

Severe displacement, skin tenting, or posterior displacement (high grades — surgical consult)
Numbness or vascular changes
Fracture-pattern pain along the collarbone

If any of these is sudden or severe, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For the others, get examined before you start self-care.

What to do first

Exam and X-rays grade it — grades 1–3 are generally managed conservatively
Brief sling comfort (days, not weeks), ice, early pendulum and range work
Expect the bump in grade 2–3 to be permanent and harmless — function usually returns fully

The longer road

Progress: range → scapular and cuff strengthening → pressing/overhead progression by criteria
Chronic AC joint ache after old injuries responds to load management, joint care, and modified pressing angles
High-grade or persistently symptomatic joints: surgical opinions exist; most never need them

Natural healing options we use

Chiropractic and manual care for shoulder-girdle mechanics
Progressive strengthening with pressing-angle modifications
Attended e-stim and PEMF
Collagen and protein support for ligament healing

About imaging

X-rays (sometimes comparison views) grade displacement.

Daily self-care

Early gentle motion, brief sling only
Modify bench/dips (the classic aggravators) during recovery
Accept the cosmetic bump; train the function

Book a visit Call 469-620-6245 All conditions

How we can help

Keep working on it at home

Once you have been examined and cleared to load it, these free home programs cover this part of the body.

Clavicle Bulletproofing Shoulders Bulletproofing The Body Audit: test your own range

More in Shoulder

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy & Impingement Rotator Cuff Tear Frozen Shoulder Shoulder Instability & Dislocation Shoulder Labral Tear Biceps Tendinopathy Shoulder Osteoarthritis Scapular Dyskinesis

Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.