Scar Tissue Treatment

Scars can be an inevitable part of human life. We all get hurt at some point, whether while we are young or older. We learn to live with our scars, turning them into significant reminders of our past. In their most positive light, scars show our perseverance in overcoming life’s challenges. While this is a noble idea, scars can be restrictive and embarrassing.

 

Depending on the type of scar you have and what caused it, you can get treatments to help you deal with it. One treatment that most people are unaware of is chiropractic care. Chiropractors can help resolve some forms of scar tissue affecting your life negatively. 

 

What Are Scars?

What most people refer to as scars is the appearance of scar tissue. Scar tissue usually forms after an injury in the place of the damage. They comprise collagen and different cells, which are meant to cover the wound. The most common ones form on your skin after acne, an injury, or surgery. 

 

Scars can also form inside your body, out of sight. You may have this type of scar without knowing, and it may be affecting how your body functions. Scars are categorized differently depending on where, why, and how they form.

 

Can Scars Go Away?

Some scars are usually very large or deep and can last your whole life. But depending on their type, you can get treatment to minimize their visibility. Other scars may disappear on their own after a while; others can cause an issue with some bodily functions. Here are the main types of scars that can occur:

 

Keloids

Keloids are the raised plaques of scar tissue, usually reddish, that form after an injury. They are more common on the upper back, shoulders, and chest. 

 

Hypertrophic 

These are the most common form of scars. They usually form and disappear or fade over time.

Contracture

These scars are the most common after burn injuries. These can affect movement if they are located in places that need to move, like joints of arms and legs. 

 

How Does Chiropractic Care Help?

Scar tissue is not permanent or structured to be permanent; it can be broken down. The process is not harmful to patients and is sometimes a necessary strategy. Breaking up scar tissue is one of the ways chiropractors can help restore movement in affected joints. The sign of a wound will always exist, but you can change the softness and flexibility of the tissue. Here are some techniques that chiropractors use to help:

Graston Technique

Chiropractors target soft tissue areas with thick scars and scrape them to break them down. They use specific instruments to do this, and they mainly apply this to the legs, lower back, and neck.

Instrument Adjustment

They use a unique pulsating device like an ArthroStim® to target specific areas. The device will massage the target area rapidly to help reduce stress and improve tissue flexibility.

 

Affected Manipulation

The chiropractor can use a combination of modalities to help soothe the scar area and then palpate it. They can use heat through light liniment oil, loosen tension using TENS, and soften sensitivity using gentle numbing cream.

Trigger Point Therapy

They can use trigger point therapy when there is a substantial buildup in heavily scarred areas. They will break down scar tissue while improving the range of motion.


 

For more about scar tissue treatment, call Cashae Spine & Sports at our office in Silver Spring, Maryland. Call (240) 219-8975 to book an appointment today.