Scar Massage

Scar massage is crucial to a full recovery after any surgical procedure or injury.  Scar tissue is how we heal.  Honestly, we heal quickly and messy.  Our body just wants to survive, and piecing itself back together quickly is essential.  When we heal, collagen knits us back together quickly and irregularly.  Whether it be our skin, fascia, muscle, or even bone a "scab" of cell building matrix begins the remodeling phase.  Our body heals that injury or insult over and over again for months and months.  This is why sometimes the area stays swollen or red for a long time; that is the healing process.
 

Scar after scar massage and remodeling

Sometimes, our body needs some help.  The collagen and healing matrix forms a messy pile or clump of fibers like a pile of pick-up-sticks.  One may remember that games of jumbled sticks on the ground.  In the same way, that how all those fibers are clumped.  Massage is a crucial therapy to help stress those fibers to get them to all line up in a line.  The act of massage disrupts that clump and will improve the remodeling of that scar.

The benefits are real.  Scar massage can improve the appearance of the scar and in some cases help it be invisible to a first glance.  It will also make the scar more supple and soft.  The tissue will move more naturally and freely.  Pain is usually reduced.  There are some topical products available at the drug store that can aid in scar remodeling.  But nothing beats trained hands.

There are a couple of different techniques and devices that can aid in scar massage.  Usually some time of lubricant is used.  Vitamin E containing products or lotions are known to aid in scar tissue reduction.  Stretching get muscles and tendons loose and supple.  Cross friction massage can be performed by rubbing one or two finger with mild to moderate pressure across or perpendicular to the scar to help those collagen fibers align.  Myofascial release (MFR) is used by massage and physical therapist to get the skin and deeper tissues, including the fascia to move freely as intended.  Finally, there are many devices and instruments that can aid in the massage and breaking up of scar tissue.  They can be used by professionals and at home alike.

All these methods and techniques can help scar tissue remodel after surgery or an injury.  This is essential for proper healing, scar appearance and pain reduction.  See your medical massage professional or physical therapist for scar management.  Check out these personal massagers that may aid in the massage of scar tissue.  Always check with a physician first to make sure scar massage is performed appropriately at the right time.