Dislocations cause damage to joint structures such as the joint capsule, ligaments,
muscles, and tendons, as well as structures that run near and into the joint
such as blood vessels and nerves. The damage can cause swelling, pain, and your
muscles to spasm.
Healing occurs in an orderly fashion. Each stage of healing needs to be treated
differently in order to increase the strength of all of the injured structures.
Physical therapists can help guide you through these stages of healing. They
can help healing to occur correctly and they can decrease the chance of other
injuries occurring while the joint is unstable and vulnerable.