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  • Contractures
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Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Achilles Tendonitis
ACL Injuries
AC Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)
Ankle Sprain
Avascular Necrosis
Bicep Tendonitis
Bone Cancer
Bone Cysts
Bone Spurs
Bone Tumor
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Bulging Discs
Bunions
Burners & Stingers
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chondrosarcoma
Chordoma
Chronic Tendon Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Colles Fracture
Concussion
Contractures
Degenerative Joint Disease
Diabetic Foot Disease
Dislocations
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Sprain
Ewings Sarcoma
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Finger Injuries
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Foot Ulcer
Fractures & Breaks
Frozen Shoulder
Giant Cell Tumor
Golfers Elbow
Hammer Toes
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pointer
Instability
IT Band Syndrome
Jones Fracture
Labral Tear
Lisfranc Injury
Low Back Pain
Lower Body Pain
Malunion & Nonunion
MCL & LCL Injuries
Meniscus Tear
Metastatic Bone Disease
Morton's Neuroma
Neck Pain
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Nerve Compression
Numbness & Weakness
Osgood Schlatter
Osteosarcoma
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellofemoral Pain
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
Plantar Fasciitis
PVNS
Rotator Cuff Tears
Scaphoid (Wrist) Fracture
Severs Disease
Shin Splints
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Pain
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Sports Hernia
Sprains & Strains
Tendon & Ligament Injuries
Tendonitis
Tennis Elbow
Trochanteric Bursitis
Turf Toe
Upper Body Pain
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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.

Looking for Joint and Muscle Contractures Care?

Related services include:

  • Orthopaedics.
  • Sports Medicine.
  • Rehabilitation 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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