NFL Week 10 Injury Spotlight: Sam LaPorta AC Joint Sprain

The Detroit Lions had a great comeback win over the Houston Texans this weekend. They overcame a deficit to win 26-23, however it came at a cost with the loss of their star tight end. Sam LaPorta suffered a shoulder injury in the 3^rd quarter. He landed hard on his shoulder after being tackled by Houston safety Erick Murray. LaPorta walked off the field holding his shoulder. He was evaluated and eventually brought to the locker room for further evaluation. An x-ray confirmed no broken bones which was a relief to the Detroit Lions. In the post-game press conference, head coach Dan Campbell reported that LaPorta’s injury was a minor AC joint sprain, however, would keep him off the field for the next 1-2 weeks. Detroit fans can breathe knowing his injury was not season-ending.

The AC joint is comprised of a piece of cartilage connecting the collarbone to the shoulder blade and is surrounded by 3 ligaments. Injuries to the AC joint typically occur due to a fall, a hard hit to the shoulder, lifting heavy objects, and repetitive overuse of the joint. Patients will typically report pain on top of their shoulder, swelling, tightness, and possibly decreased mobility of their shoulder. The severity of the injury is based on the grade of AC joint injury. There are three grades that a patient’s injury can fall into. Grade I is the mildest injury to the ligaments where they are slightly stretched with no tears. The patient will report mild pain, swelling, and tenderness on top of the shoulder. A grade II AC joint injury involves a partial tear and will report moderate pain, swelling, and tenderness. They will report some pain with shoulder movement. The patient may also have a small bump that is visible due to the injury. A grade III AC joint injury is the most severe. There is a complete tear and is sometimes referred to as a shoulder separation. They will report severe pain, swelling, and tenderness. There will be a heavily pronounced bump at the joint. They will have very limited mobility of their shoulder and possible instability of the shoulder. The typical healing time for AC joint injuries will range from 1 to 6 weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Some severe injuries may require surgery, which will extend the recovery to at least 6 months. Each injury is addressed differently in physical therapy to ensure proper healing can take place and help the patient get back to normal activity.

LaPorta with diagnosed with a mild AC joint sprain, which is the best-case scenario. This will mean a speedy return to the field with proper treatment. His timeline for return will most likely be 1-2 weeks depending on his progress in physical therapy. Treatment will start right away to address acute pain and swelling with gentle massage and passive stretching to maintain his shoulder mobility. He will begin with light strengthening exercises and gradually progress to higher level strengthening. It is imperative that he maintain full range of motion and strength as he will need to catch balls that are thrown over his head and away from his body. He will also perform exercises like push ups and planks to improve his shoulder stability. As he progresses through treatment, he will start to perform sport specific exercises to facilitate his transition back to the field as soon as possible.

This injury was a best-case scenario for LaPorta. Completing his physical therapy and treatment will ensure proper healing and preparation for a full return to the field. He should be back in action in 1-2 weeks returning as one of Detroit’s top offensive weapons!

Don’t forget to give Portsmouth PT a call if you run into any injuries so we can help you get Back to Sports, Back to Work, and Back to Life!