What causes limitation of joint motion before birth?
Fetal Akinesia (lack of joint motion during prenatal development) can be caused by many things such as problems with the muscles, problems with the nerves going to the muscles, a problem with the signals coming from the spinal cord or a problem with the brain. The most common type of Arthrogryposis is called Amyoplasia. Amyoplasia is thought to be caused by a single unexplained event that interrupts normal development of muscle. If the muscle doesnt develop normally the joint cannot move and develop thus leading to fetal akinesia and Arthrogryposis present at birth. This unexplained event is not caused by anything the pregnant mother does or does not do.
