Acromioclavicular Joint Arthritis Treated by Mobilizing the Glenohumeral Joint

Acromioclavicular joint arthritis can create a significant amount of shoulder pain and disability. Many different causes of acromioclavicular joint arthritis have been identified. Bateman attributes reduced glenohumeral joint motion to a cause of wear and tear on the acromioclavicular joint.1 We have also noticed that patients who have acromioclavicular joint arthritis have a limited range of rotation at the glenohumeral joint. The purpose of this article is to report how mobilizing the glenohumeral joint and increasing its rotation reduced the pain and increased the passive range of motion in a patient with acromioclavicular joint arthritis. HISTORY AND EXAMINATION The patient was a 35-year-old man who complained of pain in his left shoulder. No history of trauma or of previous problems with his left shoulder was reported. He stated that initially he had pain when throwing a softball, but at the time of his appointment with us, pain persisted also at rest.