Patients that have suffered strokes, head injuries, and/or spinal cord injuries are prone to flexion contractures. Likewise patients who present with conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's Disease, or Multiple Sclerosis can also be susceptible to contractures.
As these types of patients become immobile the immobility becomes as debilitating as the condition behind it. Even losing a small amount of range of motion can have a domino effect with serious health consequences. As these dominoes fall and the patient becomes more and more immobile, that person's pain and suffering will get worse. Also the expense to the health care system increases. Sick patients consume more resources.
Treatment programs for contractures should be designed to keep patients as active and upright as much as possible. A knee contracture brace can help maintain and increase range of motion.
