How Does Scar Tissue Accumulate?

What is scar tissue and how did it accumulate?" That is one of the most common questions received after assessing a patient with pain. Varying from person to person, there can be many reasons to how and why scar tissue and adhesions begin to accumulate in the body. These reasons can be explained using the law of repetitive motion and the cumulative injury cycle. The law of repetitive motion and the cumulative injury cycle allows us to understand how scar tissue and adhesions builds up causing symptoms of pain in our bodies. An understanding of these principles allows a trained manual therapist to locate tissue pathology so that they are better able to choose effective treatment options for their patients.

Lets start by discussing the law of repetitive motion. The law of repetitive motion explains how the number, force, amplitude, and relaxation time between repetitions of movement can affect the amount of insult that is placed on the tissue. For example, a computer programmer can experience a build up of adhesions in their forearm and fingers because of the repeated motions that are involved in sitting and typing on the computer. Even though the force that is needed to sit and type are small, the amount of insult that is placed on the tissue is high because they are repeating the same motions with little relaxation time in between each repetition. In time, the tissue becomes damaged and the individual enters the cumulative injury cycle, a cycle in which scar tissue and adhesions begin to form and accumulate.

There are three ways in which an individual can enter the cumulative injury cycle. The three ways include: acute injury, repetitive injury, or an injury caused by constant pressure or tension. As shown in the figure of the cumulative injury cycle below, the stage in which you enter the cycle depends on the type of injury that is involved. Each stage of the cycle will cause the next stage to occur which leads to the build up of an adhesion in the insulted tissue. In order to reverse this process, we must break down the adhesions in the body with manual therapy techniques such as ART active release technique, SASTM sound assisted soft tissue mobilization, or FST fascial stretch therapy. These techniques help facilitate proper healing in the tissue. For a more detailed description of these specific techniques, please visit my website www.peterknowstherapy.com.

So why is it so important to get rid of adhesions in our bodies? Whether an individual wants to perform better, move better, or be pain free, one of the most important aspects in all is the ability to move more effectively and efficiently. When we possess proper movement patterns, there will be less insult and stress placed on tissues in the body making it less likely for us to build up adhesions.

Since adhesions are made up of collagen fibers, they are inelastic and the inelastic property restricts normal range of motion around joints. When range of motion is restricted our bodies, normal movement patterns will become dysfunctional, which leads to the build up of adhesions. What a trained manual therapist can do is help resolve some of the adhesions that is present so that you are better able to move the way your bodies were intended to move; in a smooth, fluid, and pain free manner.

Scar tissue and adhesions can have adverse affects on an individual's fitness, performance, and rehabilitative goals. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get stronger, perform better at your sport, or simply be pain free, getting involved with a trained manual therapist will pay huge dividends. Our bodies were intended to move in a smooth, fluid, and pain free manner. Go get treated today and begin to reap the benefits involved with pure human movement!

References:
ART Active Release Technique Manual
Stretch to Win Manual
SASTM Manua