Many ask if it's painful… A good session or therapist will not put you in pain to release the structures as this can increase your risk for further injury. You may feel some discomfort but NOT PAIN. The most common side effect is really just general soreness which fades within a few days to one week.
Scar tissue can have a local area of pain when touched or stretched or it can produce a referred pain that feel like that of a nerve which is a constant annoying burn that occasionally turns sharp.
A minor wound like a cut will usually heal to leave a raised line, which will gradually fade and flatten over time. This process can take up to 2 years. The scar will not disappear completely and you'll be left with a visible mark or line. Fine-line scars are common following a wound or after surgery.
It is used to improve feeling and functionality in the scar and surrounding tissues, creating better movement between layers of the skin, fascia and muscle. Treatments stimulate the circulation, lymphatic and nervous system to encourage renewed healing and promote tissue health.
Scar Tissue Release Therapy (also referred to as MSTR®) uses gentle finger-tip pressure applied to the area to help free the restrictions in the scar. No force is involved, and the work is always applied within your tolerance range.
Many ask if it's painful… A good session or therapist will not put you in pain to release the structures as this can increase your risk for further injury. You may feel some discomfort but NOT PAIN.
A very old study actually looked at the amount of force required to “break up scar tissue”. That number was 10,000 -30,000 psi (lbs per square inch) (1).
Put the flat part of your fingers on the scar. Move the skin and tissue under the scar back and forth, holding for a few seconds. Make sure you press enough to feel the scar “move” under your fingertips. Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat until you've massaged all along the scar.
You should carry on massaging your scars for at least three to six months after your surgery or injury.
The Graston Technique® does break up scar tissue; however, that is not as scary as it may sound. Using a gentle scraping motion, chiropractors use tools to softly break down the collagen left behind during the healing process. The soft tissue then becomes pliable, restoring movement and flexibility over time.
It is recommended to perform scar massage on a daily basis to have the greatest affect on scar development, pain reduction, and scar mobility.
Astym is a tool used to break up scar tissue and damaged soft tissue to promote regeneration of healthy tissue to improve one's function. Scar tissue can cause muscle tension, limited flexibility, and range of motion restrictions.
However, the overall length of time for the scar to heal is 9-12 months. This is the time it takes for any scar to mature into a pale and flat scar. Immediately after surgery, the strength of the scar gradually increases and the maximum tension that can be reached in the wound is achieved around 4-6 weeks.
While getting scheduled for physical therapy sessions early can limit the pain and tightness after surgery, it turns out you can remodel your scars long after your surgery. Stretching the tissue breaks excessive collagen binding both at the skin level and at a deeper level.
Adhesions are bands of painful, rigid tissue that are usually found in areas where there is chronic muscle tension or injury. They can also be found in areas where there is scar tissue (see below). Adhesions are usually felt as “knots” and are tender to the touch.
The presence of pain at rest in the nerve distribution is commonly a sign that the scar involves the deeper nerve structures. Nerve tethering can occur secondary to perineural scarring and presents with exacerbation of pain by movement because of the restricted nerve mobility associated with the scar.
The most appropriate types of massage used to breakdown scar tissue include sports massage, deep tissue massage and remedial massage. Sports massage is used to break down scar tissue. A sports massage mainly focuses on areas containing soft tissues. Sports massage can vary in pressure depending on personal preference.
Massage should be done two to three times daily for ten minutes each time. How long is massaging necessary? You should massage your scars as instructed for at least six months following your surgery or injury. Massaging for more than six months will not hurt your scars and may actually prove beneficial.
In general, it takes about six to eight weeks for injured tissue to remodel entirely.
When to advise patients to massage their scars. If a patient massages their scar prematurely it could cause the wound to tear or reopen, risking an infection. It's therefore important to advise them to not begin massaging until the wound is fully healed.
Castor oil can be applied directly onto skin surface scars, then covered with a warm wrap or compress – and even left overnight. Alternately, a series of treatments with a castor oil pack can be beneficial for gently encouraging the dissolution of internal scarring and adhesions.
Vibration can help with scars that are very sensitive, therapists use vibration to break up scar tissue. When introducing vibration for scar management, allow the patient to be in charge of doing the massage as they are able to identify if the vibration is too painful.
Physical therapy can help break up scar tissue that has formed around a joint. Learning flexibility exercises and stretches can help to reduce stiffness and relieve some of the discomforts that scarring can bring.
Scar Massage: Apply a small amount of lotion or Vitamin E oil to the scar. Using firm pressure with your thumb or fingers, massage the scar in a circular motion. Next move your thumb across the width and length of the scar. This should not be painful, but may be slightly uncomfortable at first.