Restricted Movement: Causes, Treatment & Help

Movement restriction characterizes a temporary or permanent disturbance in the functionality of the skeletal and musculoskeletal system. A distinction is made between an active and a passive form. The movement restriction is not a disease in the actual sense, but a consequence of diseases, injuries, operations as well as the natural aging process.

What is a limitation of movement?

A movement restriction is characterized by a partial or complete dysfunction of the bony musculoskeletal system as well as the soft tissue. A movement restriction is characterized by a partial or complete dysfunction of the bony musculoskeletal system as well as the soft tissue. A distinction is made here between a movement restriction with an active and a passive range of motion. In the case of a shoulder injury, for example, there may be an active restriction when the examining physician moves the patient’s arm. However, there may still be a completely normal range of motion of the shoulder. Restricted motion also does not always involve the joint itself. For example, in the case of injuries to the ligaments and tendons of the ankle joint, the joint itself is completely functional and can move to a normal extent. However, due to the injuries in the soft tissue, the range of motion is severely limited. The following joints are commonly affected by limited motion: shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and elbow.

Causes

There are many causes of limited motion. Often, injuries such as a fracture or a stretched ligament at the ankle are the reason for the disorder. Furthermore, there are diseases that cause the mobility of the joints to deteriorate in the course of time. Rheumatism, arthrosis, spinal diseases and osteoporosis have a negative effect on the condition of the bones. Deposits as well as severe wear and tear in the joints often lead to a permanent restriction of movement. Neurological diseases also have an impact on mobility. Stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis have a considerable influence on the function of the skeletal and locomotor system. Movement restrictions can also occur in childhood. If a motor and/or neurological disorder is present in early childhood development, this can lead to temporary as well as chronic movement restrictions. Other factors that can limit mobility include obesity, natural aging, medications, drug and alcohol abuse, and cancer. Furthermore, surgery can also result in limited motion.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Hip joint inflammation
  • Hip joint arthritis
  • Herniated disc
  • Gout
  • Sciatic pain
  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatism
  • Strained ligaments
  • Vertebral joint arthritis
  • Lumbago
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Stroke
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis

Diagnosis and course

The restriction of movement is diagnosed by the orthopedist. In addition to a detailed medical history, a physical examination is performed on the general condition. Range of motion is determined using the so-called NNM, or neutral zero method. The degree of mobility of a joint is measured in angular degrees. The orthopedic evaluation and documentation index reflects the extent or degree to which the individual joints of the body can be moved. The orthopedist instructs the patient to move in a certain direction. The doctor measures the range of motion of the joint and compares it with the reference values from the tables. This makes it possible to determine the extent to which movement is restricted. Since the causes of restricted movement are very diverse, radiological diagnostics must be used, especially in the case of injuries. X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI can be used to determine whether mechanical disturbances are the cause and to what extent the joint is affected. The course of a movement restriction depends on the cause. If it is due to an injury such as a torn ligament, full mobility is restored after a few weeks. If the movement restriction is the result of a disease, this has a considerable effect on the course.Temporary disorders can usually be eliminated within a few weeks or months. In the case of permanent disorders, the movement disorder often develops in parallel with the underlying disease. The more this progresses, the more pronounced the movement restriction becomes.

Complications

The movement restriction may be permanent, but it may pass. It is always a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, and here medicine distinguishes between an active and passive form. It is not a disease in itself, it is more the consequence of a disease, an injury or a symptom of old age. In the case of a movement restriction, the function of the skeleton is no longer given, but soft tissues can also be affected. There does not have to be an injury directly to the joint; tendons or ligaments can also render it completely immobile. The knee, ankle, hip joint or elbow are frequently affected. The causes are very diverse, in young years the movement restriction is usually caused by a fracture or ligament stretching. But also diseases have very negative effects, diseases of the spine and osteoporosis could be mentioned here. In older people, deposits or wear and tear often cause movement restriction, but strokes, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis also often lead to permanent movement restriction. Sometimes the movement restriction is already determined in childhood, usually there is an early childhood developmental disorder. Of course, obesity can also significantly limit mobility and the natural aging process cannot be stopped either. Alcohol, drugs, medications can also lead to limited movement and it is not uncommon for movement to be limited after surgery or during cancer treatment.

When should you see a doctor?

Most people are quite familiar with minor movement restrictions. Everyone has an occasional blockage. Often a joint cracks because it has become jammed. A major restriction of movement that also lasts longer should be discussed by the affected person with his doctor. Most problems are orthopedic in nature. If we sit a lot, this can lead to restrictions of the musculoskeletal system. Tendons and muscles become distorted and shortened, others are overstretched non-stop. The family doctor will refer to the orthopedic surgeon, and chiropractors are also called upon here. Movement restrictions can also occur after sports, for example because of a sore muscle. Athletic people don’t usually need a doctor for this. They know that the muscle soreness will pass. The situation is different in the case of accidents. Some limitations occur as a result of a bruise, which can be more painful than a fracture. It also often lasts longer. What it is, the doctor will determine. Some limitations are especially important to keep an eye on. When in doubt, see the doctor once more often than not. For example, the cervical spine is a sensitive area, and the same applies to the lower back. Age also causes blockages, as does a herniated disc. Whether it is a small toe or a shoulder joint: in many cases X-rays are taken, some are examined in the so-called “tube” (the MRI machine or magnetic resonance tomograph).

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of limited motion begins with finding out the cause. Once a diagnosis is made, the condition or injury that results in motion restriction can be treated. In order to shorten or slow down the course of a movement restriction, it is necessary to move oneself or the affected body area. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and muscle building training are used in conjunction with other forms of physical therapy, such as stimulation current therapy, to restore or improve mobility. In the case of movement restrictions, it is important that the measures are started immediately. Resting can cause poor posture to develop, which can lead to abnormal stresses in other areas of the body. There is a saying: You snooze, you rust. If movement is restricted, it is absolutely necessary to keep the joint mobile. The longer you do not move a joint, the more difficult it becomes to restore mobility. Supplementary aids such as crutches, wheelchairs and walkers can also be used to restore or improve mobility.

Outlook and prognosis

The further outlook in the case of limited mobility depends largely on the type and severity of the limitation.Therefore, no general prediction is possible with this symptom. In some cases, movement restriction leads to psychological problems. For example, the patient complains of decreased self-esteem. Psychological problems are more likely to occur in people in whom the limitation of movement is sudden and has not been present since birth. In this case, treatment with a psychologist is possible. Treatment of the movement restriction itself is not possible in every case. Often, physical therapies or movement therapies help to address the movement restriction. In many cases, basic movements must be relearned, which is relatively difficult, especially for adults. However, if no nerves are damaged, the movement restriction can be treated relatively well. If the restriction occurs after a bone fracture, the treatment is successful in most cases and the patient can move again afterwards. If the injury is to the spinal cord or spine, treatment is often not possible.

Prevention

It is not possible, or only possible to a limited extent, to prevent a restriction of movement as a result of injuries and other diseases. If one becomes ill with a disease that will result in movement restrictions later in life, measures such as physiotherapy, exercise therapies, and adequate sports activities should be taken from the beginning. Adequate preventive measures can be physical activities in the sense of swimming, cycling, etc.. With the help of specific sporting exercises as well as prophylactic physiotherapy, the muscles that support and fix the joints are built up. In this way, the joints are less susceptible to injury, so there is no need to restrict movement in the first place.

Here’s what you can do yourself

Movement restrictions include numerous medical conditions. Affected people can no longer perform certain movements, such as stretching the arm in one direction, completely or at all. If the symptoms last longer than a week, a doctor should be consulted. If the restriction is the result of years of incorrect strain, the cause must be eliminated. First of all, rest is important. In the case of shoulder and arm pain, the affected person should not lift anything heavy until the inflammation has subsided. In the case of restricted movement following surgery, mobility is also carefully increased. Massages can promote circulation and reduce swelling. Warm full baths and infrared radiation can also relieve tension and bring more mobility. It is not advisable to force this. Rather, it must be restored slowly and gradually. Restricted mobility is rarely the result of muscle weakness. Often, tense counterpart muscles, the atagonists, are the reason. They may be shortened by inactivity, for example, and must now be trained. Mud packs, for example, help against inflammation, and anti-inflammatory ointments also improve the symptoms. Rigid connective tissue with poor circulation can cause the same complaints and can be remedied by targeted massages. This can be done by the affected person after training by a physiotherapist. A self-help group offers support and comfort and can improve the quality of life. Here, affected persons can get a lot of information about their clinical picture.