Scars Are Fascia Events, Too

This article urges manual practitioners to view scars not merely as skin-level events but as significant disruptions within the fascial system. Surgical and traumatic scars can profoundly alter collagen architecture and inhibit the natural glide between tissue layers, contributing to pain, stiffness, and dysfunctional movement patterns, often far from the original scar site. Clinicians are encouraged to "read" scars during physical exams by palpating for tethering, densification, and assessing for sensory changes like numbness or hypersensitivity. The author details a multi-faceted treatment approach to restore fascial mobility. Key interventions include manual scar mobilization, myofascial release, and cupping to lift adherent tissue layers. Other effective options are dry needling to disrupt dense collagen and energy-based therapies like laser, TECAR, and shockwave, which promote tissue healing and remodeling. Once mobility is improved, integrating movement retraining is essential to solidify new, healthy glide patterns. A case study of a patient with low back pain linked to an old ankle surgery scar demonstrates how treating the fascial restrictions with TECAR and shockwave therapy led to significant improvements in mobility and pain relief, underscoring the importance of addressing the body’s entire scar map.
Scars Are Fascia Events, Too