Hand<unk> s as seen in Freeman–Sheldon syndrome In pathology, a<unk>  is a permanent shortening of a muscle or joint. 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, but can also be due to the congenital abnormal development of muscles and connective tissue in the womb.<unk> s develop when normally elastic tissues such as muscles or tendons are replaced by inelastic tissues (fibrosis). This results in the shortening and hardening of these tissues, ultimately causing rigidity, joint deformities and a total loss of movement around the joint. Most of the physical therapy, occupational therapy and other exercise regimens targeted towards people with spasticity focuses on trying to prevent<unk> s from happening in the first place. However, research on sustained traction of connective tissue in approaches such as adaptive yoga has demonstrated that<unk>  can be reduced, at the same time that tendency toward spasticity is addressed.<unk> s can also be due to ischemia (restriction of blood flow) leading to the death of muscle tissue, as in Volkmann's<unk> . They can also be caused by excessive myofibroblast and matrix metalloproteinase accumulation in wound margins following injury.
Contracture
UroVysion
Adhesion 
Subluxation
Emasculation
Overpressure
Denudation 
Sphincter paralysis