What term describes permanent shortening of a muscle or joint due to prolonged spasticity?

• A. Contracture
• B. Atrophy
• C. Hypertrophy
• D. Dystrophy

Answer: (A)

Permanent shortening of a muscle or joint from long-standing spasticity is called a contracture. Spasticity keeps muscles continually contracted and over time the surrounding tissues become stiff and fibrotic, so the muscle can’t stretch back to its full length. This leads to a permanently reduced range of motion and possible deformity, even when neural input is treated.

By contrast, atrophy means loss of muscle mass, hypertrophy means increased muscle size from training or other stimuli, and dystrophy refers to degenerative muscle disease. So the term that best fits the situation described is contracture.