Acromioclavicular Dislocation: Development of a Rehabilitation Protocol through Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.327Keywords:
Acromioclavicular Joint/injuries, oint Dislocations /rehabilitation, Shoulder Dislocation/ rehabilitationAbstract
Acromioclavicular dislocations (ACD) are common injuries among both athletes and the general population. Given the increasing number of patients with ACD referred to the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) department, it became necessary to understand how the Rockwood classification and the type of treatment (conservative versus surgical reduction aiming to restore alignment and stability of the acromioclavicular joint) influence the rehabilitation program of these injuries and the main precautions to consider during its implementation. A literature review was conducted using two electronic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) as well as the main reference textbooks. A total of 36 articles were identified and used in this review. We aimed to develop a protocol outlining the main guidelines for the rehabilitation program of ACD. Our protocol divides the rehabilitation program into three distinct phases, each with specific goals and precautions. Despite its structured nature, the protocol is not intended to be restrictive; the rehabilitation physician should adapt it according to the clinical and functional characteristics of each patient at each stage of the rehabilitation program, based on their assessment, knowledge, and the information provided by the orthopedic surgeon. In the future, further prospective studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol would be of great importance.Downloads
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