Jacksonville Jaguar fans didn’t have a great weekend in their 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers. They lost one of their top receivers, Christian Kirk, to a fractured collarbone. He was attempting to catch a pass in the 4th quarter landing on his shoulder then the Green Bay linebacker landed on top of him. He immediately grabbed his shoulder and was in pain. The training staff helped him off the field and he went back to the locker room for further evaluation. Imaging confirmed a broken collarbone. Kirk underwent surgery Monday to repair the fractured collar bone and will miss the remainder of the season, a major blow to the Jaguars offense.
The collarbone, also known as the clavicle, is a long thin bone located between your ribcage and shoulder blade. The most common way to injure your clavicle is either a direct blow or a falling. Kirk’s injury involved falling onto his shoulder and then having a heavy force, the Green Bay defender, landing on top of him. Fractures to the clavicle typically occur along the middle portion of the bone, but don’t always require surgery.
Unfortunately, the level of Kirk’s injury did require him to undergo surgery to repair the damage. This surgery is called an ORIF surgery, open reduction internal fixation, and is used to bring broken bones back together. This is done first by reducing the injury, bringing the bones back into proper alignment. Followed by the fixation, securing the pieces in place using screws, plates, wires, or nails. After the surgery, he will be placed in a sling for several weeks to allow the bones to heal and rest.
Physical therapy is an absolute must do after this surgery. Participating in physical therapy will ensure that the shoulder regains full range of motion and strength so that Kirk can not only return to the football field but perform daily activities like getting dressed and reaching over his head without issue. The main focus when starting physical therapy will be to regain range of motion and mobility as soon as possible. This will be done by the physical therapist through various types of stretching and moving his arm to regain his mobility. As his mobility improves, he will begin strengthening his shoulder. He will begin with gentle strengthening exercises so that the joint and muscles don’t get irritated, which would delay his progress. He will use resistance bands and weights to strengthen his shoulder in multiple planes ensuring a good foundation. Next, he will progress to weight bearing exercises, like push ups and planks, to improve his shoulder stability. As he progresses through his physical therapy, he will continue to be challenged with higher level activities so he can get back out on the field next season and make game winning catches for the Jaguars.
Christian Kirk’s fractured clavicle will sideline him for the remainder of the 2024 season, however he will be back out on the field ready to go next season. An integral part of his return will be his participating in physical therapy and dedication he has to his rehabilitation. The amazing effects of physical therapy on healing and returning to full activity following a clavicle fracture are quite amazing. This injury will not stop Kirk from returning and reclaiming his spot as one of the top receivers in the NFL next season!
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!
Published November 2, 2024 | Posted in NFL Injury Spotlight.
