- This article refers to orthopedic contractures; for other types of contractures see the "See Also" section below.
A muscle contracture is a permanent shortening of a muscle[1] or joint.[2]. It is usually in response to prolonged hypertonic spasticity in a concentrated muscle area, such as is seen in the tightest muscles of people with conditions like spastic cerebral palsy.
Contractures are essentially muscles or tendons that have gotten too tight for too long, thus becoming shorter. Once they occur they cannot be stretched or exercised away; they must be released with orthopedic surgery or Osteopathic Manipulative Technique the application of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Most of the physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other exercise regimens targeted towards people with spasticity focuses on trying to prevent contractures from happening in the first place.
Contractures can also be due to ischemia, as in Volkmann's contracture.
[edit] See also
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| Capsular joint |
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| Noncapsular joint |
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| Nonjoint |
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Certain early complications of trauma ( T79, 958) |
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Certain early complications
of trauma |
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