Hello,
I would like to ask about ac joint sprain grade III - my doc tell me that I should wear shoulder orthosis brace and doesn’t allow for any exercises for 4 weeks after injury - the thing is that I have been doing some light exercises after 1 week and my pain levels and shoulder funtion are much better now - should I keep on this or listen to my doc and brace my limb? He said that surgery is not necessary. I’m affraid that exercises though feel ok for my might disturb healing injured tissues.
Hey Cheezus, thanks for the questions. I agree with your doctor that typically surgical consultation isn’t needed until grade 4+ for an A/C joint sprain. Regarding bracing, this isn’t something I typically recommend, rather I usually advocate for introducing tolerable movement loading the upper extremity over time and building back to baseline prior to the sprain. It’s difficult to give individual advice without a consultation. We do offer remote consultations (https://www.barbellmedicine.com/shop/pain-rehab/pain-rehab-remote-consultation/).
So there is no evidence in the literature, that exercising with tolerable movements is harmful in first 4 weeks after AC joint 3 grade sprain? I don’t know why, but many docs think that moving the arm disrupt healing, and immboilizing injured area for some period of time is necessary. Can you relate to this point of view?