A contracture develops when the normally stretchy (elastic) tissues are replaced by nonstretchy (inelastic) fiber-like tissue. This tissue makes it hard to stretch the area and prevents normal movement.
Contractures mostly occur in the skin, the tissues underneath, and the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint areas. They affect range of motion and function in a certain body part.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003185.htm
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
From the National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health
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Does any one have more detail on the intricate working of how this occurs. I want a detailed step by step explanation on how the fibers change.
only if you understand something can you manipulate it.
Does any one have more detail on the intricate working of how this occurs
Quotethat's scar tissue contracture. not the contracture in LL.
incorrect.
your suppose to be a doctor. you should know this.
What are contractures?
Contractures are the permanent or semi-permanent restriction of movement of soft tissues due to shortening and/or structural changes in the connective tissues of the body. Sometimes the normally elastic or stretchy tissues are replaced by stiff, fibrous tissue; this can be in skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. When these soft tissues surrounding the joints in the body become shortened or inelastic, a joint contracture develops that can severely limit the motion of the joint or even freeze it in one position. This occurs for a variety of reasons. Nerve damage or neurologic disease paralyzes muscles; injuries or burns will cause inelastic scar tissue; and immobilization for prolonged periods such as casting after fracture or surgery will allow structural changes and shortening to take place. Often, just inactivity due to illness or to pain in joints will reduce the range of joint motion through the changes noted above
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most people on this forum think that contractures are just shortening of the soft tissue...............
I have some very terrible news for those people............
this is incorrect technically, a contracture is a change which results in shortening of soft tissue........... however there is more to the definition. contracture can become permanent when the contracture undergoes structural change.
the original post describes this structural change.
so basically think of contractures on 2 levels. level 1 is shortening of the muscle. and level 2 is structural change in soft tissue. this is permanent.
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however I found the information on another site which goes into the detail I was looking for.
contracture type 1 is common for tibia and usually the contracture type. (muscle shortening)
contracture type 2 is exponentially more possible for femur. (muscle shortening and structural change)
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this is why femur is much more risky. because there exists possibility for permanent complications.
THIS WAS THE ANSWER I WAS SEARCHING FOR. so glad I found it 
Abstract: The clue to understanding joint contractures rests within the smaller word
“contract.” Something that contracts can be said to pull up, shorten, or shrink. A contracted joint
becomes rigid because the muscles that cross the joint have shortened. This shortening limits a
joint's movement. The fluid-filled spaces inside the joint shrink and dry up and are replaced by a
network of interwoven fibers.
http://www.rtcil.org/products/RTCIL%20publications/Health%20Issues/SCI%20Joint%20Contractures.pdf
this is what fks people for life. this is what must be avoided at all costs.
QuoteChanges in and around the joint
You've heard the expression "Use it or lose it." Well, muscles that aren't used lose some
of their strength. The muscle fibers literally shrink. It's as if the body is saying, "You aren't using
the length of muscle you have, so you must not need all of it." Shortened muscles limit a joint's
range of movement.
The shortened muscle also triggers changes inside the joint itself. The spaces between the
bones that come together to form the joint are filled with protein-rich fluids and gels that look a
little like egg whites in their thickness and color. When healthy joints move, the movement keeps
the fluids circulating through the joint space. The egg-white substance oozes around the bones
and lubricates them, keeping them from rubbing against each other.
If the bones in the joint can't move, they can't push and squeeze the fluids and gels
around the bones that make up the joint. So, nothing is being lubricated. When the fluid stops
moving, it becomes thick and hard. The joint not only freezes outside with its muscles, but inside
as well.
http://www.rtcil.org/products/RTCIL%20publications/Health%20Issues/SCI%20Joint%20Contractures.pdf
Quotehas anyone done MUA? for contracture?
yes 12345 did. he is the only example we have that I kow of.
there is a thread on it...... it did not go well.
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=980.msg30305#msg30305
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