What are spasticity and contractures?

Also known as: joint contractures, flexion contractures, muscle tightness and stiffness, muscle contractions.

Spasticity and contractures are conditions in which muscle imbalance across a joint leads to abnormal positioning and tightness. Spasticity refers to involuntary tightening or stiffening of muscles. The term contracture refers to abnormal positioning of a joint.

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Reviewed by: Aaron J Berger, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM