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contractura

muscle contracture

noun kohn-trahk-TOO-rah Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: Latin contractura, from contrahere (to contract)

Usage Note

Contractura is a medical and physiotherapy term for an involuntary, sustained muscle contraction causing pain and stiffness — what English informally calls a 'muscle knot' or spasm. It is extremely common in everyday Spanish conversation about physical ailments. Despite the shared Latin root, do not confuse it with contrato (contract).

Examples

"Tengo una contractura en el cuello desde ayer."

Natural Translation

I've had a neck contracture since yesterday.

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