Scars will more than likely have some impact on the way your body functions. Even seemingly small scars can have an impact on our bodies. Anytime your tissue is severed it will begin restructuring to protect you from further injury….
So what really happens after a cut?
Stage #1: Hemostasis. Hemostasis occurs within the very first moments of receiving an injury. Its purpose is to stop the bleeding of an injury and to seal it off from the external world. The blood that is sent to the wound begins to coagulate. The blood is changing from a liquid to a gel! This stage of the wound healing process seals the damage until the tissue is repaired.
Stage #2: Inflammatory Phase. Once the wound has been sealed, it needs to be cleaned! This stage is about cleansing the wound area. Your vessels actually contract and clot to allow cells that are specialized for cleaning to enter the wound area. These are your antibodies, white blood cells, enzymes, growth factors, and nutrients. The inflammatory phase is essential to protecting your health during the wound healing process.
Stage #3: Proliferative Phase. Next, your skin begins to rebuild itself during the proliferative phase. It starts with epithelialization, which seals both sides of the wound. As the inflammatory phase ends, granulation tissue begins to form out of collagen and extracellular matrix to rebuild the structure of the skin. Collagen is a protein that is needed for tissue fortification and scar formation. Angiogenesis, or increased blood flow, is also initiated to bring nutrients and energy to the building tissue. The wound itself begins to contract at this time.
Stage #4: Maturation Phase. The maturation phase is all about strengthening and finishing the newly-made connections between the old and new tissues, as well as the development of the scar. Collagen forms strong cross-links between the wounded areas and thickens the newly-formed tissue. In the maturation phase, the collagen and skin cells are “remodeled.” This phase can take quite a while to fully develop.
During stage 3 and 4 the tissues are being “remodeled” That tissue is FASCIA. Because the body wants to heal as quickly as possible the fibers are laid down haphazardly and can cause restrictions which can and will affect surrounding areas. The thickness of scar tissue formed depends on a persons age, genetics, location, movement and weight load while healing, and depth of scar. Scars that become infected also often heal poorly. Even laparoscopic surgery (where only a small incision is made on the skin) will have internal scar tissue formed which can affect function and pain.
I have treated many clients with scars including c-section scars, mastectomy scars, and scars from abdominal surgeries. Many of my clients with abdominal scars have complained of low back pain. This makes complete sense because the fascia is three dimensional and the restrictions in the abdomen created by scar tissue formation will in turn pull on the back causing back pain! I know I have told many of you to imagine your fascia as the threads of a sweater or the fibers of a spider web. When there is a restriction (in this case scar tissue) in one area all other areas of tissue will be pulled in that direction as all fibers are connected. That small scar you have can affect your whole body and your posture which over time can turn into a BIG issue.
How does Myofascial Release work to decrease pain and dysfunction related to scar tissue?
The slow prolonged stretch completed in myofascial release allows the scar tissue fibers to stretch and flatten.
When the tissue releases the matrix surrounding the tissues becomes more fluid and allows for nutrients to get onto the cells and toxins to be released. When this happens the cells can thrive becoming more healthy and allowing for increased ease of glide and motion. This will decrease pain.
If you continue to massage and stretch the scar yourself you can have long lasting pain relief, improved posture, and improved function.
コメント