A muscle contracture is a permanent shortening of a muscle[1] or joint.

[2] It is usually in response

to prolonged hypertonic spasticity in a concentrated muscle area, such as is seen in the tightest
muscles of people with conditions like spastic cerebral palsy.
Contractures are essentially muscles or tendons that have remained too tight for too long, thus
becoming shorter. Once they occur, it is often argued that they cannot be stretched or exercised
away (they must be released with orthopedic surgery). Most of the physical therapy, occupational
therapy, and other exercise regimens targeted towards people with spasticity focuses on trying to
prevent contractures from happening in the first place. However, research on sustained traction
of connective tissue in approaches such as adaptive yoga has demonstrated that contracture can
be reduced,[3] at the same time that tendency toward spasticity is addressed.
Contractures can also be due to ischemia, as in Volkmann's contracture.
Excessive matrix metalloproteinase and myofibroblast accumulation in the wound margins can
result in contracture.
Burn scar contracture refers to the tightening of the skin after a second or third degree burn.
When skin is burned, the surrounding skin begins to pull together, resulting in a contracture. It
needs to be treated as soon as possible because the scar can result in restriction of movement
around the injured area.
Burn scar contractures do not go away on their own, although may improve with the passage of
time and physiotherapy and splinting. If persistent the person may need the contracture to be
released. Techniques may include local skin flaps (z-plasty)or skin grafting (full thickness or
split thickness). There are also pharmacy and drug-store treatments that can be used to help scar
maturation, especially silicone gel treatments. Prevention is key. For instance, in the case of a
burned hand one would splint the hand and wrap each finger individually. In the instance of a
burned neck, hyperextention of the neck (ie. no pillows) during the healing process.