• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Contracture deformity

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

A contracture is a tightening of muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin that prevents normal movement.

Alternative Names:

Deformity - contracture

Considerations:

A contracture develops when the normally elastic (stretchy) connective tissues are replaced by inelastic (non-stretchy) fiber-like tissue. This makes it hard to stretch the area and prevents normal movement.

Contractures occur primarily in the skin, underlying tissues, muscle, tendons, and joint areas. The most common causes are scarring and lack of use (due to immobilization or inactivity). See also:

• Dupuytren's contracture
• Volkmann's contracture
• Becker's muscular dystrophy
• Cerebral palsy
• Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

Common Causes:

• Injury (including burns)
• Reduced use (for example, from immobilization)
• Damage or degeneration of the nerves
• Inherited disorders (such as muscular dystrophy )

• Review Date: 9/21/2006
• Reviewed By: Jeffrey Kauffman, MD, Sacramento Knee and Sports Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.