The nurse, who is caring for a 73-year-old female client who has been hospitalized with a stroke, ...

A
Disuse, atrophy, and shortening of the muscle fibres cause joint contractures. When a contracture occurs, the joint cannot obtain full range of motion (ROM). Contractures sometimes leave a joint or joints in a nonfunctional position, as seen in clients who are permanently curled in a fetal po-sition. Early prevention of contractures is key; they can begin to form after only eight hours of immobility in the older adult client.
Disuse atrophy can occur in eight hours, not 24 hours.
Disuse atrophy can occur in eight hours, not one week.
Disuse atrophy can occur in eight hours not one month.