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View Article in PDFScar Tissue - Nothing But Trouble!!
When the skin, tissues or organs are damaged, the body begins a process of healing. However, the body is unable to recreate many of the body’s tissues resulting is the
development of scar tissue. Scar tissue is a fibrous connective tissue, laid down at random that serves to rejoin, repair and protect damaged tissues. Thicker than the surrounding tissue, scar
tissue is paler and denser because it has a limited blood supply. The result is a ‘healed’ tissue that is more useful than it was in its damaged state.
Healthy tissue obtains its strength and flexibility from the extensibility of individual fibers and the deliberate unidirectional placement of those fibers. Scar tissue is non-elastic and disrupts the strength and flexibility of healthy tissue through its inability to contract and stretch as normal healthy tissue does. Placement of a different type of tissue within an existing one creates a non-homogeneous line of tissue and a weak link within that tissue. The haphazard placement of scar tissue fibers impairs the strength of the tissues by disrupting the unidirectional placement of tissue fibers.
On occasion, the body can produce too much fibrous tissue, resulting in an abundance of scar tissue at the site of injury. In the skin, this can result in hypertrophic and keloid scars. In muscles, tendons and ligaments, it can result in large and extensive amounts of scar tissue that create masses within or around tissues, or extend beyond the bounds of the original injury further limiting movement and affecting otherwise unaffected areas.
Scar tissue is most effectively broken down by cross fiber friction massage. It can also be helped by proliferation of healthy functioning cells adjacent to the injury site that can then replace the area occupied by scar tissue. This can be achieved with modalities as well as a modified supervised rehabilitative exercise program that stresses the tissue at the right level allowing for a more functional scar to be produced.
Healthy tissue obtains its strength and flexibility from the extensibility of individual fibers and the deliberate unidirectional placement of those fibers. Scar tissue is non-elastic and disrupts the strength and flexibility of healthy tissue through its inability to contract and stretch as normal healthy tissue does. Placement of a different type of tissue within an existing one creates a non-homogeneous line of tissue and a weak link within that tissue. The haphazard placement of scar tissue fibers impairs the strength of the tissues by disrupting the unidirectional placement of tissue fibers.
On occasion, the body can produce too much fibrous tissue, resulting in an abundance of scar tissue at the site of injury. In the skin, this can result in hypertrophic and keloid scars. In muscles, tendons and ligaments, it can result in large and extensive amounts of scar tissue that create masses within or around tissues, or extend beyond the bounds of the original injury further limiting movement and affecting otherwise unaffected areas.
Getting Scar tissue to work with you!!
Scar tissue production can be limited by the application of rest, ice, compression, elevation and obtaining a referral for appropriate medical treatment within the first 72 hours following injury (RICER regime). These measures limit the amount of scar tissue initially laid down, as well as preventing further injury and re-aggravation that can add to the amount of scar tissue.Scar tissue is most effectively broken down by cross fiber friction massage. It can also be helped by proliferation of healthy functioning cells adjacent to the injury site that can then replace the area occupied by scar tissue. This can be achieved with modalities as well as a modified supervised rehabilitative exercise program that stresses the tissue at the right level allowing for a more functional scar to be produced.