A shoulder separation sounds like an odd injury, but in reality, it refers to the stretching or tearing of ligaments where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the shoulder blade (scapula). This intersection is also called the acromioclavicular or AC joint.
A dislocation of the kneecap occurs when the patella comes completely out of its groove on the end of the thigh bone (femur), and comes to rest on the outside of the knee joint. Kneecap dislocations usually occur as a significant injury the first time the injury occurs, but the kneecap may dislocate much more easily thereafter.
A gamekeeper's thumb, also called a skier's thumb, is an injury to one of the important ligaments at the base of the thumb joint. The injury involves the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), a band of tough, fibrous tissue that connects the bones at the base of the thumb. This ligament prevents the thumb from pointing too far away from the hand.
Internal impingement is a specific type of shoulder injury that is seen primarily in throwing athletes.
Chondromalacia patellae is a term used to describe the damage or softening of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. It is similar to patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee) in which the pain is felt under and around the kneecap. This condition is common among young athletics but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee.
