Scar Tissue Massage

Scar tissue massage helps get rid of scar tissue and adhesions that occur as a result of injury, surgery, or repetitive motion.

Research has shown that scar tissue is weaker, less elastic, more prone to re-injury, and much more sensitive to pain than normal, healthy tissue. The result is often chronic pain that remains for years after the initial injury. Read more about pulled muscles, scar tissue, and re-injury.

When a muscle, tendon, or ligament is torn (strained or sprained) or nerve is damaged, healing occurs in three stages called the inflammatory response:

1. In acute inflammation, redness, swelling, heat, and pain occur. This phase usually lasts 48-72 hours.

2. Repair: As the inflammation decreases, repair begins. The damaged tissues heal with scar tissue formation.

3. During remodeling, collagen fibers that make up scar tissue realign according to the forces placed on the scar. This phase is where massage is most effective.

Cross Fiber Friction Massage for Scar Tissue

One of the most frequently used massage techniques for scar tissue is cross-fiber friction. To use this technique effectively, the massage therapist most locate the adhesion precisely and then apply pressure to move across the fibers without sliding over the skin.

This procedure can be uncomfortable, but the massage therapist should always work within your pain tolerance, and the discomfort will go away as excess scar tissue goes away and the remaining scar tissue realigns. More information: six massage techniques to remove scar tissue or scar tissue self-massage.

The following video demonstrates cross-fiber friction massage for tennis elbow:

Return from Scar Tissue Massage to Injury Massage.