[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

Clinical Consideration
As the mechanophysiological conditions of injured skin greatly influence
the degree of scar formation, scar contracture and abnormal scar
progression/generation, Ogawa et al. (2011) suggests the use of strategies
for scar prevention and treatment include those that influence receptors
sensitive to mechanical forces. Mechanical forces such as stretching
tension, shear force, scratch, compression, hydrostatic pressure, and
osmotic pressure can be perceived by integrins and various sensory nerve
receptors. Different forms of manual loading and mechanical strain result
in mechanotransduction-mediated effects that exert a positive influence on
remodeling and healthy scar formation (Chaitow 2014).
General Treatment and Technique Safety Considerations
It is not productive to ‘over-power’, plough through or force tissue release – this
will result in undue client discomfort and other undesirable outcomes.
Minimize the potential of client post-treatment soreness and/or bruising by
working slowly. Primary causes of adverse reactions are attempting to push too
fast and being too forceful or aggressive with the tissue. The general idea is to
coax and encourage a release.
If there feels like too much resistance in the client’s tissue, pause, ease up and/or
slow down. If the client’s tissues do not seem to be favorably responsive, pause
treatment and re-evaluate. Sometimes a simple change like easing up, slowing
down or changing technique and/or the angle or direction of technique
application will prove productive.
Avoid over-treating. Initially 5–15 minutes in a particular area is relatively safe.
As your skill and confidence levels evolve, longer periods of time can be spent
in a particular area, allowing for progression into deeper layers of tissue.
Progress at a rate that is congruent with the development of your skill level.
When employing deeper techniques and when working with traumatic scar tissue
clients, it is important to appreciate the difference between the work occurring as