Muscle contracture

Various interventions can slow, stop, or even reverse muscle contractures, ranging from physical therapy to surgery.

A common cause for having the ankle lose its flexibility in this manner is from having sheets tucked in at the foot of the bed when sleeping.

Due to sensory issues, some autistic people prefer to toe walk instead of their feet making full contact with the ground.

The joint will remain in a flexed state producing similar effects as listed in immobilization.

[6][7] In GSD-V and GSD-VII, a cramp or contracture is managed by cessation of the causal activity until pain resolves; however, repeated episodes can accumulate muscle damage (see below under fibrosis).

[8][10] The potential effects on muscle include progressive dystrophic changes, fibrosis and evidence for increased apoptosis.

In Bethlem myopathy 1, contractures presenting in infancy may resolve by age 2 years, but reoccur as the disease progresses, typically by late of the first decade or early teens.

Adhesions and fibrosis are made of dense fibrous tissue, which are strong and supportive, helping to prevent the injury or micro-injury from reoccurring.

[15][16][17][18] Typically performed by physical therapists, passive stretching is a more beneficial preventative measure and tool to maintain available range of motion (ROM) rather than used as a treatment.

[19] It is very important to continually move the limb throughout its full range at a specific velocity but a passive stretch can’t be maintained for the period of time required for optimal benefit.

[1] In adjunct with surgery, refractory muscle contracture can also be treated with Botulinum toxins A and B; however, the effectiveness of the toxin is slowly lost over time, and most patients need a single treatment to correct muscle contracture over the first few weeks after surgery.