Last February I was involved in a collision with a car (me on my bike). My main injury was a fractured right femur. That's coming along nicely, thanks to the addition of some internal titanium scaffolding. I've been back on my bike for quite awhile, have pretty much full range of motion in my knee and hip, and have recovered much of my leg strength. At times I can even jog short distances with little or no discomfort.
Secondary to that I also dislocated my left AC joint. At the time, treating it seemed relatively unimportant as I needed both arms for crutches for several weeks, and my physical therapy focused on my leg. I haven't been in the pool in a long while. I tried a couple times after I was mobile, but decided I wasn't ready, and went so far as to give up my pool membership.
My AC joint still pops out in a number of situations, so I think I might need more than more r&r. I did get some attention from my physical therapist and do a couple exercises pretty regularly (standard horizontal rotation, and rolling my scapulae back and down), but wonder if there is more I could be doing. I'm coming up on my one-year follow-up, and plan to discuss options with my doctor. In anticipation of possible surgery, or just continued rehab, I'm wondering what other exercises I could do to improve strength around the joint.
Thanks for the responses. Even before my crash I was riding much more than swimming, and once I was on my feet and had enough mobility in my knee was getting plenty of leg exercise either pedaling or walking/hobbling to and from the train. I would like to get back in the pool, but at this point, it wouldn't be worth it if I couldn't do some sort of stroke. I don't need water walking at this point. Also, as I live near Lake Michigan, I felt if my limbs were up to it, I could always hop in the lake. They weren't last summer, but maybe this year.
My primary shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) itself is fine. My problem is with my AC (acromioclavicular) joint. It appears that the pectoralis major and anterior deltoid might have the biggest responsibility for keeping my clavicle from "popping up," which is the way it dislocates. In addition to the rotator cuff exercises and rotation of my scapula, I have been doing seated rows, which help activate my trapezius and drag my scapula down and back. (I have pretty rounded shoulders after a career as a software engineer, seated in front of a computer day-in, day-out.)
Thanks for the responses. Even before my crash I was riding much more than swimming, and once I was on my feet and had enough mobility in my knee was getting plenty of leg exercise either pedaling or walking/hobbling to and from the train. I would like to get back in the pool, but at this point, it wouldn't be worth it if I couldn't do some sort of stroke. I don't need water walking at this point. Also, as I live near Lake Michigan, I felt if my limbs were up to it, I could always hop in the lake. They weren't last summer, but maybe this year.
My primary shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) itself is fine. My problem is with my AC (acromioclavicular) joint. It appears that the pectoralis major and anterior deltoid might have the biggest responsibility for keeping my clavicle from "popping up," which is the way it dislocates. In addition to the rotator cuff exercises and rotation of my scapula, I have been doing seated rows, which help activate my trapezius and drag my scapula down and back. (I have pretty rounded shoulders after a career as a software engineer, seated in front of a computer day-in, day-out.)
