It’s hard to believe that we are already in March! Where is this time going?!
Scar tissue is very common, especially with an injury, and can be very frustrating to deal with. Many people do not know that massage therapy to scar tissue can be very beneficial with the healing process and can get you functional faster.
Before we get into the article, let me just take a minute to outline what scar tissue is so you can get a better understanding of how to treat them.
After an injury, the body initiates the inflammatory process. This allows more blood to the area that is affected so that the cells can provide nutrients and get rid of debris so the tissues can heal. Scar tissue is formed from collagen fibers to give it more stability during healing. Think of scars that are like a piece of thread pulling two pieces of fabric together. These tissues are usually not a strong as the original, but will help prevent further injury from happening. Scar tissue can also be formed from prolonged immobilization from an injury or paralysis. This is called a contracture (when the connective tissues over a joint become short and therefore cannot fully lengthen). An adhesion can also occur (when the collagen fibres become intertwined, reducing range of motion). Along with the inflammation and swelling from the healing process, the affected area can become quite a pain to deal with. (Rattray & Ludwig, 2005, p.243-244)
How can a massage treatment help during the healing process?
There can be many things that can be done to help heal scar tissue from an injury. The techniques vary depending on the type of injury and how long it occurred.
With acute injuries, treatment is focused on decreasing edema/swelling (see my article on the Lymphatic System for more details). By decreasing the edema, the scar will not be as pronounces as the collagen fibres are carried in this fluid. (Rattray & Ludwig, 2005, p.245)
For more chronic scars, the treatment is different. Because the fibres are more rigid, a warm therapy application can be applied. This will allow the tissues to have better mobility, and will loosen easier with massage. Specific techniques include frictioning (very specific, small movements to an area), bowing (moving the scar in either one or two directions) and fascial release (squeezing/spreading to connective tissues). After the techniques are performed, gentle stretching can be done to the joint to allow for freer movement. Once the treatment is finished, a cold application can be applied to any areas that are inflamed from the massage. Just like all other treatments, you will be given some homework to do in between treatments to help speed up healing, like hydrotherapy, self-massage and exercises. (Rattray & Ludwig, 2005, p.246-247)
Of course, there may be some scars that are inappropriate to massage (like burns or fresh wounds). In these cases, I would refer you to a doctor to determine if your body will be able to handle the treatment or if another form of care is required.
There you have it! The next time you have an injury you’ll know where to turn.
As always, thank you for stopping by my blog, and I hope you have a fantastic day!
References:
Rattray, F., & Ludwig, L. (2005). Clinical Massage Therapy: Understanding, Assessing And Treating Over 70 Conditions (11th ed.). Elora, ON: Talus Incorporated.
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