Multimodal Chiropractic Management of a Postsurgical Sternoclavicular Injury Utilizing Gamified Rehabilitation: A Case Report

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe how gamification was incorporated into postoperative rehabilitation of a patient recovering from a sternoclavicular dislocation.

Clinical Features

A 23-year-old man sought chiropractic care from an academic chiropractic clinic for persistent right-sided, sternoclavicular joint, moderate-to-severe pain that was exacerbated with shoulder movements and overhead activities. His shoulder was treated previously with reconstructive surgery and a 6-week trial of physical therapy; however, he reported minimal improvement in his pain, and his functional ability was suboptimal.

Intervention and Outcome

Multimodal chiropractic treatment consisted of manual therapy in conjunction with active rehabilitation. The rehabilitation program incorporated gamification principles, such as competition, point scoring, and task focus. After 8 treatments, a clinically significant reduction in his upper extremity functional index score and numerical pain rating was observed.

Conclusion

The patient was managed using a gamified approach to postsurgical sternoclavicular joint rehabilitation and responded positively. Chiropractors may consider including gamified, multimodal care for patients with postoperative musculoskeletal concerns.