What is a contracture and how is it prevented? - Laura Wehrli, PT

	What is a contracture and how is it prevented?
	Laura Wehrli, PT Physical Therapist/Supervisor, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Craig Hospital, Colorado
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A contracture is a lack of flexibility in a joint because of tightness of a muscle. The muscle becomes so tight that it no longer stretches to its normal length, and therefore it prevents that joint from moving through its full range of motion. And s... Show More

A contracture is a lack of flexibility in a joint because of tightness of a muscle. The muscle becomes so tight that it no longer stretches to its normal length, and therefore it prevents that joint from moving through its full range of motion. And so that joint is then stuck at a certain degree, or a certain position which prevents someone from either doing an activity or sitting in the wheelchair in an appropriate position. We would prevent a contracture by stretching regularly by doing what we call “range of motion” and making sure that muscle and joint gets moved through its full range of motion.

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Contracture, Range of Motion


What is a contracture and how is it prevented?
Laura Wehrli, PT Physical Therapist/Supervisor, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Craig Hospital, Colorado	More Videos by Laura Wehrli
	Transcript

A contracture is a lack of flexibility in a joint because of tightness of a muscle. The muscle becomes so tight that it no longer stretches to its normal length, and therefore it prevents that joint from moving through its full range of motion. And so that joint is then stuck at a certain degree, or a certain position which prevents someone from either doing an activity or sitting in the wheelchair in an appropriate position. We would prevent a contracture by stretching regularly by doing what we call “range of motion” and making sure that muscle and joint gets moved through its full range of motion.

What is a contracture and how is it prevented?