title: [Muscle contractures. Essay on a physiopathological approach to clarify the nomenclature].
abstract: There is a good deal of confusion in the international literature concerning the use of the term contracture. A pathophysiological approach would help in defining a more precise terminology. Antalgic contracture principally concerns a compensating phenomenon related to a polysynaptic reflex Painful contracture includes different varieties of cramps and metabolic-induced contractures. Painless contracture groups together myostatic and myostatic contractures. We suggest a simplified nomenclature.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serratrice
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rowland
mesh_terms: D003286:Contracture / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012660:Semantics; D009626:Terminology as Topic