Scars are not just an aesthetic problem, but first and foremost threaten muscle structure. Complications, resulting from lack of scar care, lead to tissue adhesions, and these can disrupt posture and movement patterns. So if you don't want to expose yourself to pain and problems in daily functioning, read what scar therapy is And how much you can benefit from it!
What is a scar?
Many people have scars, but most rarely consider what they actually are. In medical terminology, A scar is a skin lesion that results from damage to layers of skin, and the defect is filled with fibrous connective tissue. Its purpose, on the other hand, is mainly to close the wound and stabilize the tissue.
Speaking of scars after surgery, it is worth noting that when the surgeon cuts through layers of skin, fascia, muscle, and then sutures them together, a cascade of repair processes immediately begins in the body. This is because the tissue begins to thicken and fill in the „gaps”, thus forming scars.
By nature they are less flexible than human skin, and are also characterized by poorer blood supply and nutrition.
However, it is fairly easy to assess whether the tissue (e.g., after surgery) is healing properly or the opposite.
- Scar normal is usually light in color and flat.
- Abnormal scar It is red and gently „protuberant,” and in addition can hurt and itch.
However, the biggest problems among Profizjoclinic patients and others are caused by tissue adhesions. They are unpleasant, visible and threaten muscle structures, which can lead to restriction of tissue mobility and occurrence of pain. Tissue adhesions are most often formed after procedures in which the wound was deep (e.g., cesarean section, abdominal surgery). In addition, the cause of their occurrence is Lack of movement in and around the scar. This often occurs when patients want to „save” the affected area.
A pathological type of scarring, on the other hand, is scarring (keloid), which is excessively proliferated fibrous connective tissue that is large, protuberant, itchy and definitely extends beyond the perimeter of the scar, making it even more visible.
What helps with scars?
The main task of scar treatment is achieve good tissue mobility and achieve a satisfactory aesthetic result. Lack of mobility, on the other hand, leads to serious complications, such as muscle contractures, pain, strain, postural abnormalities, and impaired movement patterns and proprioception. The main way to prevent such effects, however, is to scar therapy, which focuses on mobilizing fibrous connective tissue and surrounding dermal tissue.
The main thing that comes to the aid of treatment is ScarWork manual scar therapy, which we successfully use in our Profizjoclinic physiotherapy offices. We use it not only on surgical scars or post-surgery, but also on burn scars or being bitten by an animal.
ScarWork is Sharon Wheeler's proprietary method and involves integrating the scar into the fascial network, making the scar a creation that is more natural and belongs to the body.
Patients greatly appreciate this technique, as it gives immediate and lasting results, and there is completely painless and gentle.
Other therapeutic methods that support the work of the physiotherapist include: kinesiotaping, stretching techniques, and laser therapy. It is worth mentioning that studies have shown that the scar - under the influence of the laser - can fade, shrink and additionally become more elastic. Laser therapy also leads to flattening and softening such serious and large skin lesions as scarring.
How does scar therapy work?
Scar therapy makes the scar able to flush out, „bleed” i smooth. The most important thing, however, is what happens under the superficial layer of skin. This is because the tissue is mobilized, so the risk of complications in the muscle structure is drastically reduced.
A very big advantage of this method is the fact that. The age of the scar does not matter.
This is because physiotherapists can work on both fresh and long-standing scars. On the other hand, the effects can be seen and felt immediately after the treatment, and the achieved the condition after therapy is permanent.
When deciding on scar therapy, moreover, it is worth knowing that:
- Not every scar is treated the same way;
- Even if the scar does not significantly change visually, it still The therapy has a positive and health-promoting effect on the tissues lying deeper down, thereby leading to a reduction in adhesions or minimize the risk of their formation;
- often enough one-time meeting, lasting about 45-50 minutes (more appointments are recommended for difficult or extensive scars);
- After therapy, the scar can still „work” on the body and change for about 2 weeks.
A scar is not just a cosmetic problem. This is because through the expansion of scar tissue, there can be serious consequences in the form of reduced mobility of certain muscle structures, which in turn results in overloading of these or other structures and years of growing pains in the body.
So why should you suffer when you can live without pain?
Bibliography:
- Hulsbergen Henning JP, Roskam Y, van Gemert MJ. Treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars with an argon laser. Laser Surg Med 1986; 6: 72-5.
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