Ankylosis is caused by immobilization. When a limb is partially or completely immobilized following a fracture or dislocation, stiffness sets in the immobilized joints. This stiffness is due to lack of use and is generally associated with muscle weakness and loss of movement control. Joint stiffness and muscle weakness begin to develop in the early days of immobilization and are relatively proportional to its duration. Therefore, the longer a limb is immobilized, the more significant the consequences.
Among other things, a joint that has been immobilized for a long time may lose some of its range of motion. For example, if treatment and exercises are initiated too late, a shoulder may no longer be able to raise as high as the other one, and a knee may not fully straighten. This can significantly limit sports or work activities in the future by disrupting technique. The loss of movement will be compensated by another region of the body, which will have to move more than necessary, putting it at risk of injury. For example, if the shoulder does not allow the arm and hand to reach for an object above the head or hold an object overhead, the back will compensate for this lack of mobility by arching more than it should. This adaptation of the body may enable the desired task to be performed, but it puts the back at risk. When the movement is repeated, it can cause injuries, muscle tension, and pain in the back or shoulder.
Therefore, it is important to start physiotherapy treatments and home exercises promptly to prevent the long-term consequences of ankylosis caused by immobilization. The treatments help identify the muscular and ligamentous factors causing the loss of mobility and eliminate them. In addition, gradually adjusted exercise programs will allow you to regain the lost muscle strength during immobilization and relearn how to control your movements in their full range.
