Scar tissue is part of the body’s natural response to damage. The body might grow scar tissue to heal a wound, such as aTrusted Source:
1)burn
2)cut
3)sore
4)surgical incision
There are different kinds of scars. Most scars are flat and pale. However, in cases when the body produces too much collagen, scars can be raised. Raised scars are called hypertrophic scars or keloid scars. Both of these kinds of scars are more common in younger and dark-skinned people.
Some scars can have a sunken or pitted appearance. This kind of scarring occurs when underlying structures supporting the skin (for example, fat or muscle) are lost. Some surgical scars have this appearance, as do some scars from acne.
Scars also can appear as stretched skin. Such scars result when the skin stretches rapidly (for example, as in growth spurts or during pregnancy). In addition, this type of scar can occur when the skin is under tension (near a joint, for example) during the healing process.
Scar tissue may cause pain in several ways. Sometimes, the pain is due to skin tightness, which may make it more difficult to move freely.
In other cases, scar tissue pain occurs due to nerve damage resulting from the original injury. If the wound was deep and affected nerves or tendons, a person might have long-term symptoms, such as pain or numbness, in the affected area.
Scar types includes keloid, hypertrophic, atrophic, stretch marks, umbilical. Small wounds under 2mm generally do not scar and big wounds scar. Mechanical stress can stimulate scarring and that stress shielding can reduce scarring in wounds.
Medical management of scar tissue
1) Dermabrasion: in this old scar tissue is removed and encourage new tissue growth.
2) fat grafting: fat piece is taken from another part of the body and is injected it underneath a scar.
3) laser treatments: laser penetrates the skin and stimulates the collagen production to ensure scar healing.
4) scar revision surgery: in this intervention doctor may perform a skin graft transplanting healthy skin from another part of the body
Physiotherapy management of scar tissue:
Scar tissue is broken down within a deep tissue massage. A deep, firm pressure is used during a deep tissue massage aiming to get deeper within muscle fibres and tissues. A deep tissue massage breaks down adhesions and collagen fibres that can be caused as a result of scar tissue.
The known effect of ultrasound is to promote healing in the inflammatory and proliferative stages. It stimulated the synthesis of growth factor that in turn increase the strength and
elasticity of the collagen fibers formed.
Dry needling increases tension, resulting in the change of shape and breakdown of the scar tissue.
Kinesiology tape will accelerate the scar healing and also ensures scar smoother skin.