• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Contracture deformity

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Deformity - contracture

Home Care:

Home care continues the care that the health care provider prescribes. For example, physical therapy exercises must be continued at home.

Call your health care provider if:

• A contracture seems to be developing.
• You notice a decreased ability to move a joint.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your tightness or limited movement, such as:

• When did it start?
• How would you describe it? Where is it located? How bad is it?
• How much movement is there?
• What other symptoms are also present?

Depending on the cause and type of contracture, diagnostic testing (such as an x-ray ) may be necessary.

Physical therapy, orthopedic braces, or surgery may be helpful for some types of contractures.

• 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.