Joint and Muscle Contractures

A contracture occurs when your muscles, tendons, joints, or other tissues tighten or shorten causing a deformity. Contracture symptoms include pain and loss of movement in the joint. Doctors can treat contractures with medicine, casts, and physical therapy.

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On this page

• What Are Joint and Muscle Contractures?
• What Are the Symptoms of Joint and Muscle Contractures?
• How Do You Diagnose Joint and Muscle Contractures?
• How Do You Treat Joint and Muscle Contractures?

What Is a Contracture?

A contracture occurs when your muscles, tendons, joints, or other tissues tighten or shorten causing a deformity. Contracture symptoms include pain and loss of movement in the joint. If this occurs, you should seek treatment right away. Doctors can treat contractures with medicine, casts, and physical therapy.

As tissue that stretches becomes less flexible, you might:

• Begin having contracture symptoms.
• Find it hard to move the affected area.
• Have limited range of motion.

What causes contractures?

Contractures are caused by inactivity and scarring from a previous injury.

What are contracture risk factors and complications?

Contracture risk factors

• Scarring from burns or injuries.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Muscular dystrophy.
• Nerve damage.
• Stroke.
• Central nervous system diseases.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Tenosynovitis (swelling of a tendon and the tendon sheath).
• Traumatic injury.
• Being inactive for a long time.

How common are joint and muscle contractures?

Joint and muscle contractures are common in older adults.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Joint and Muscle Contractures?

Symptoms of contractures include:

• Loss of movement in the affected joint.
• Pain.

How do you diagnose contractures?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform an exam.

To help confirm a contracture diagnosis, your doctor may also order imaging tests, such as an:

• X-ray.
• MRI.
• Ultrasound.

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How Do You Treat Joint and Muscle Contractures?

Doctors at UPMC offer many contracture treatments to loosen and relax stiff areas.

Nonsurgical contracture treatments

Your doctor may use one or more of the following to treat your contracture:

• Physical therapy.
• Casts and splints to keep the joint extended.
• Medicine to relax the joints.
• Nerve blocks to numb the affected joint.
• Electrical stimulation.

Surgical contracture treatments

Contracture surgery

If other treatments don't work, your doctor may suggest contracture surgery to:

• Lengthen your muscles.
• Repair ligaments, tendons, or bones.

The main goal of contracture surgery is to restore a full range of motion to the affected area.

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