Definition

Noun: 1. An abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle: A condition where a muscle, tendon, or other tissue becomes permanently shortened and stiff, often due to prolonged immobility, injury, or disease, leading to restricted movement of a joint.

Examples of Usage

• After the stroke, the patient developed a contracture in his right hand, making it difficult to open his fingers.
• Physical therapy is essential to prevent contracture in patients who are bedridden for long periods.
• The burn scar caused a skin contracture that pulled her elbow into a bent position.

Advanced Usage

• Muscle/Tissue Contracture: Specifies the type of tissue affected.
  • The cerebral palsy resulted in severe muscle contractures in his legs.
• Joint Contracture: Emphasizes the effect on the joint's range of motion.
  • Prolonged casting can lead to a debilitating joint contracture.
• To develop/lead to/cause a contracture: Common verb collocations describing the onset.
  • Without proper stretching, the injury may lead to a permanent contracture.

Variants and Related Words

• Contract (verb): To draw together or become shorter. (e.g., )
• Contraction (noun): The process of becoming smaller or shorter. In physiology, it is the normal shortening of muscle fibers. (e.g., ) Note: "Contraction" is the normal process, while "contracture" is an abnormal, pathological state.
• Contractured (adjective): Describing a muscle or joint affected by contracture.
  • The surgeon operated to release the contractured tendon.

Synonyms

• Stiffening: Becoming rigid and difficult to move.
• Shortening: The act or process of becoming shorter in length.
• Deformity: A distortion of a part of the body (contracture is a specific type of deformity).

Related Phrases

• Dupuytren's contracture: A specific medical condition causing fingers to bend toward the palm.
  • He underwent surgery to correct his Dupuytren's contracture.
• Volkmann's contracture: A permanent flexion contracture of the hand and fingers due to ischemic injury.
• To prevent/treat/manage a contracture: Common phrases in a medical or therapeutic context.

Noun

1. an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle