Acromioclavicular Joint Conditions

The acromioclavicular joint (or AC Joint) is the connection of your collar bone to the shoulder blade. This small joint transmits all the force from your arm to your trunk. Arthritis in the joint may occur as a consequence of activity and age, and cause pain around the shoulder.

Pain is typically felt over the joint itself and may radiate to the tip of the shoulder or the base of the neck. Symptoms may be provoked by lying on the affected side or using the arm overhead.

The AC joint may also be injured acutely by falls causing dislocation. This results in acute pain and an abnormal appearance of shoulder where the collar bone is typically prominent.