Falling directly onto the point of the shoulder is one of the most classic injury mechanisms in football, and the differential is short. Here’s how we sort it. Collarbone fracture. A direct blow to the shoulder is the most common way the clavicle breaks, and it loves the middle third of the bone. Point tenderness right on the bone, pain with any arm movement, sometimes a visible deformity. X-ray confirms it fast. Most heal without surgery, but displacement matters. AC joint sprain. Same mechanism, different structure. The force drives the shoulder blade down while the collarbone stays put, stressing or tearing the ligaments at that top joint. The Rockwood classification grades it 1 through 6 based on how far the joint displaces, and that grade drives treatment. Low grades rehab, high grades can need surgery. Stinger. If the hit compresses or stretches the nerves from the neck into the arm, you get burning, numbness, and weakness down one arm. The good news: most resolve in minutes t...