Joint contractures, or limitations in the full range of movement of joints, are common in older people living in long-term care settings. They result in physical discomfort, social isolation, loss of independence and increased staffing demands. Studies conclude that the prevention of contractures should be the first line of treatment. This article aims to raise awareness of contractures in older people living in nursing homes and individualised preventive strategies that can be used by nursing staff such as maintaining functional ability, risk identification, stretching and correct bed and seating position.
Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2018.e1023
Citationdu Toit M (2018) Prevention of contractures in older people living in long-term care settings. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2018.e1023
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double‑blind review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
AcknowledgementThe author would like to thank Phillip Longman for his help with the illustrations and Peter Richards for the photography
Published online: 08 May 2018
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