Potomac Massage Training Institute
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More Complementary Health Articles
Massage Therapy and Post-Op Scar Relief
Many who have undergone a surgical procedure are left with some pain or loss in their range of motion. One factor that could create these sensations is scar tissue formation (collagen fibers) developed deep in the body.
Skin-level scars may be unsightly, but with little or no pain or movement restriction. Problems can arise however in the layers that have healed deeper inside. A surgeon may have had to cut through several layers of muscle and fascia to reach the necessary area.
For example, a neck or back surgery deals with opening the body to the level of the spine. The necessary surgery is complete; yet the healing process can leave behind scar tissue beyond the surface. Deep, hidden scarring around muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments may generate significant symptoms, and become problematic during recovery or rehab.
During healing, new tissue generally does not lay down evenly. Instead, the body tends to over-produce, providing little direction of how the fibers arrange themselves. The result resembles a bubble gum patch – no real direction to its mass and often times distributed unevenly.
Therapies like stretching or swimming may provide benefit in preventing some tissue build up. Another therapy which may be of even greater benefit is massage therapy for the affected area. Massage may help to break up the non-functional adhesions and fibrosities that cause restriction in the surgically repaired areas, leaving functionally strong and aligned fibers intact.
Proper timing is vital to affecting a better result. Seek therapists with continuing education and experience with this type of work. It is one non-invasive technique that may prove to be both cost effective and with fewer side effects, when compared to taking drugs to cover up the symptoms of pain.
