Condition Guide
Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC)
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) means a baby is born with stiff joints and weak muscles in two or more areas of the body. With early therapy, many children with AMC gain function and live active, independent lives.
Quick Answer
Arthrogryposis is a condition present at birth in which two or more joints are stiff and fixed (contractures), usually because the baby moved less than normal in the womb. It is not a single disease but a sign with many causes. Treatment centers on physical and occupational therapy, sometimes casting or surgery, and in-home support.
Key Takeaways
- AMC means **stiff, fixed joints (contractures)** in two or more body areas at birth.
- It usually results from **reduced movement in the womb**, from many possible causes.
- It affects **movement, not usually intelligence**.
- **Early therapy** and home support help a child gain function and independence.
What Is Arthrogryposis?
Arthrogryposis is not one disease but a physical sign, joints that did not move enough before birth and became stiff. When a baby moves little in the womb, the tissues around the joints thicken and the joints lock into position. Causes include nerve and muscle conditions, limited space in the womb, and genetic factors. In its most common form, amyoplasia, intelligence is typically normal.
What to Expect
AMC ranges from mild to significant. Many children have contractures of the wrists, hands, elbows, knees, and feet, and weak muscles around those joints. With early and consistent physical and occupational therapy, stretching, casting, bracing, and sometimes surgery, children often gain a large amount of movement and learn to do daily tasks in their own way.
How Home Care Helps a Child With AMC
Consistency matters, and much of a child's therapy program happens at home. Focus Family Care provides pediatric home care that supports positioning, stretching routines between therapy visits, help with daily tasks, and, for medically complex children, skilled private duty nursing. A registered nurse coordinates with the child's therapy and orthopedic team.
How We Know This
This educational guide is reviewed by Focus Family Care's Director of Nursing, a licensed APRN. It summarizes general information from the sources below and is not a substitute for advice from your own physician. Focus Family Care is a Florida-licensed home health agency and nurse registry (NR #30211928, HHA #299995403).
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does arthrogryposis affect intelligence?
In the most common form, amyoplasia, intelligence is usually normal. Some genetic or neurological causes of arthrogryposis can affect development, so a doctor evaluates each child individually.
Can children with arthrogryposis walk?
Many do, sometimes with braces or assistive devices, especially with early therapy and, when needed, surgery. Mobility depends on which joints are affected and how severely.
Is arthrogryposis progressive?
The contractures present at birth are generally not progressive, and function often improves with therapy over time. A child's medical team guides treatment.
Request Home Health Care Today
Focus Family Care starts care in as little as 24 hours. Call now or request an in-home assessment. We answer around the clock.
515 N Flagler Drive, Suite 350, West Palm Beach, FL 33401