(English) Episode 33-Unlocking Chronic Shoulder Pain - The Overlooked AC Joint an Manual Therapy's Surprising Power

The research report investigates the efficacy of manual physical therapy for treating non-acute acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain, a common cause of shoulder discomfort. It details a prospective single-cohort study where patients, whose ACJ pain was confirmed by a diagnostic injection, received manual therapy targeting the shoulder girdle and cervicothoracic spine. The study found statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability after an average of 6.4 treatment sessions, with benefits lasting up to six months. Although the small sample size means cause-and-effect cannot be definitively inferred, the results suggest manual therapy could be a viable non-surgical alternative to traditional interventions for ACJ pain.(Harris KD, Deyle GD, Gill NW, Howes RR. Manual physical therapy for injection-confirmed nonacute acromioclavicular joint pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther [Internet]. 2012;42(2):66–80. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.3866)