Scars might be cool, but scar tissue is not.

Scars might be cool, and while chicks dig them, they’re as functional as a Florida snowplow. Scars caused by cuts or burns are not only on the surface; there is also scar tissue below the surface. Scars can also be caused by blunt force or any type of trauma. Here is how it works:

After an injury, the inflammatory process signals fibroblasts to lay down new, protective tissue in the form of scars. Tissues in the body are normally aligned in a very orchestrated manner. While normal tissue is orchestrated in fine, functional parallel lines like a symphony, fibroblasts are free-form jazz – no rules, no true pattern to follow. Think of it like a neighborhood where everyone has a meticulously manicured lawn, then the new family moves in down the street and not only do they never mow or weed; they have a toilet in the front yard. It brings down the property value. Anywhere you have a scar, that tissue has less “value,” and reduced functionality.

Nowhere is this truer than in the core muscles. Any disturbance in the pelvic & abdominal area from trauma, surgery (biggest being C-sections) and/or pregnancy causes scar tissue not just on the outside, but the inside too. Scars are like icebergs. There’s much more of them under the surface than above. These adhesions screw with the functionality of the core and thwart its ability to provide counter pressure to the spine leading to back problems, worsening back problems, etc.

We have not only seen first hand how working on scars helps our patients but Mini Spine #2 is currently coming back from elbow surgery.

All scars, core, and non-core need manual therapy to prevent contracture, adhesions and to treat/prevent loss of function. Core scars need the same, plus core re-training to support the spine.