Scar Tissue Treatment – by Alan Pentico

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 | Restoration, Self Care, sports massage, wellness | No Comments

Do you have scars? I think almost everyone does, whether it be from a wound or a serious operation. I have a lot of little scars all over my arms and legs. I even have a long one on my head that starts an inch down onto my forehead to about four or five inches up onto the top of my head. It took 100 stitches to close it up. I am grateful that over the years it has blended in and is not so noticeable anymore.

After a wound has healed on the outside there is still damage under the scar. If you have a scar near or on a joint area you may have noticed that there are limits in your range of motion or some other discomfort. To “fix” or “cure” these limitations some people will have the scar tissue removed through another operation. That doesn’t make sense to me since all it is doing is creating more scar tissue.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist, I have learned how to rid a body of scar tissue without having to get an operation. Some of the benefits of coming to me are:

- I cost less, unless you have insurance that covers it for you.

- You don’t need to take any drugs to put you to sleep, though some of you may like the drugs.

- It is usually painless. I say “usually” because sometimes there may be a bit of discomfort if it is a deep scar (which requires deeper work) or if it is an immature scar, meaning a somewhat newer scar. The technique even works on old scars.

- There is no cutting open of the skin. You walk out with your whole body just as in tact as when you walked in.

-Once you learn the techniques you can do it yourself which is even cheaper. I can’t believe I’m saying that.

As a massage therapist, I always keep in mind that scar tissue may be at the root of your physical imbalance. Several years ago my wife experienced severe pain due to scar tissue build-up after a series of operations. It was pain that most likely could have been avoided had she known, after the first surgery, what we do now about massage. But it’s not too late to undo some of that damage. Not only can I minimize a scar’s appearance with bodywork, I can also therapeutically correct the cause of my client’s physical ailments.

Below is an article to give you more insight into your scar. If you are interested in treating your scar(s) please give me a call or email me.

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What is scar tissue?

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Scars develop on the skin’s surface as the result of burns, deep lacerations or a variety of other injuries that penetrate or interrupt the skin’s integrity. Possessing an amazing capacity to heal and regenerate, the skin forms a scab over a wound within three to four days following an injury. By day ten the scab typically shrinks and sloughs off as the body focuses on laying down collagen fibers to strengthen the former site of injury. The damaged tissue can be in recovery between three months to over a year before it returns to full strength. Additionally, some diseases or skin disorders (such as acne) may also result in scar tissue formation. While scars can result from a variety of traumatic events to the skin, they share some common characteristics. As a general rule, the earlier and more consistently scar tissue is exercised, massaged and warmed, the less possibility of developing any long-term concerns.

Scar Traits
The degree of scar formation varies from person to person, there are some distinguishing characteristics:

· Becomes hard and non-pliable
· Bands of fibers on or below the surface
· Skin tightens or shortens. When crossing a joint, this contracture may limit range of motion, comprise function or cause deformity.
· Becomes dry and reopens to form a wound if not managed properly. This is especially true for skin grafts, which do not produce oil or sweat.

Long-Term Effects
The body’s formation of scar tissue is an awesome demonstration of self-preservation, the resulting fibrous mass can set the stage for problems down the road. Composed primarily of collagen, scar tissue’s fibrosity prohibits adequate circulation. In addition to the physical limitations of collagenous tissue, the lack of blood flow and lymph drainage occurring in scar tissue makes it vulnerable to dysfunction. The resulting abnormal stress on a scar’s surrounding structures may include:

· Nerve impingement
· Pain
· Numbness
· Limited range of motion and flexibility
· Postural misalignment
· Muscle atrophy
· Tissue hypoxia
· An increase in potential for future injury

In fact, some professionals believe that scar tissue is the root of a majority of physical imbalances. Bodyworkers addressing scar tissue early in its development can help minimize any of the preceding secondary scar tissue problems.

Two Phases
A scar’s healing progression consists of two phases, immature and mature.

· Immature – Immediately after a wound heals, the scar is immature. During this period it may be painful, itchy or sensitive as nerve endings within the tissue heal. While it is typically red in appearance, most scars fade to normal flesh color with maturation. Exercise, massage and heat application will have the greatest positive effect on an immature scar.

· Mature – Depending on the size and depth of the wound, scar tissue will cease production 3 to 18 months following wound healing. When scar tissue is no longer produced, the scar is considered mature. While techniques to reduce scar tissue in a mature scar are effective, a more disciplined and vigorous approach is necessary.

Walking the Walk

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 | Self Care, wellness | No Comments

Our goal as Massage Therapists is to help our clients achieve a sense of wellness just after one visit, but really we want to encourage them to seek wellness after they walk out our door. That would include drinking enough water, getting enough rest, and exercising. Alan and I don’t want to just preach these things, but live them. For the past several months I, for one have been working harder at it.  These things have been a way of life for Alan for many years, so it’s a no brainer and he’s a good example for me.

I enjoy exercise for all of its benefits, but it’s been a struggle to find something that I’ll stick with. I do really well with an exercise routine for a while and then other things come along and take priority. (Sound familiar?) I’ve decided to just accept that and no longer be surprised when the wheel turns, otherwise I get stuck in a rut of silly guilt.

My preferred method of exercise is walking, pilates, and hand weights. As much as I love my treadmill, it had to be forced into hibernation recently–at least until we no longer have neighbors living below us. I was in denial of that fact for many months; the treadmill was my trusted friend. I didn’t want to walk out in the elements and watch for cars while crossing the street. I enjoyed the ability to control my inclines and watch the number of burned calories climb, all while watching an episode of Gilmore Girls or part of a movie on DVD. It was a beautiful system that worked for several years!

I relinquished my hold on the treadmill, however, and discovered some things that I cannot know while pacing on the big rotating black belt. The new outdoor system has been surprisingly ideal and I’m enjoying the momentum (ask me how I’m doing in about 3 months).

Here is what I’ve learned:

1) My city’s street sweepers do an awesome job! I hadn’t thought much about that until recently. They’re awfully busy this time of year, gathering all those leaves blown into the street by the wind AFTER my neighbor’s landscaper blew them into mine.

2) The cold temperatures are easily adapted to as long as my ears are covered–but then again, Winter hasn’t started yet here in Utah.

3) It’s not such a good idea to make one of my walk days be on garbage day with the sun blazing and all the cans lined up along the curb. Pee-eew!

4) Walking to classical music does something to my brain that is really quite cool. That’s not a genre I usually pick to accompany my exercise, but it added variety to a routine To-Do. It didn’t even slow my pace.

5) The homes and yards of my neighborhood, as opposed to seeing a story played out on screen, is not as boring as I thought. I just go a different route every day to change things up.

6) Like anything I’ve done that is truly worthwhile, seeing a difference from my exercise takes a lot of patience. Today–after 3 weeks of getting back into a routine–as I put in my few minutes of jogging, I realized my legs were like a little motor. It felt amazing! I felt like a cartoon where the character is running and the legs are going around so fast that they look like a fan blowing on high. My legs were carrying the rest of my body and it didn’t feel like a chore. I finally get how it works: little by little, keep pushing.

7) And finally, for the hundredth time (I’d like to think I’ve been working at exercising for that long) I remembered how true Elle’s statement is from Legally Blonde. “Exercise gives you endorphins–endorphins make people happy and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.” The only thing I was shooting my husband with were dirty looks (unintentionally, of course) because of the way I was feeling at times–tired and…tired, but those looks have disappeared. I think. At least I feel better. I’ll have to ask my husband if he’s missed my occasional daggers.

Did you know that the release of endrophins is one of the best benefits of massage therapy? Endorphins not only make people happy, they reduce the intensity of pain.

One thing I know for sure about exercise is that you have to figure out what works for you. And it’s okay that it changes from time to time. I thought my thing was the treadmill, but at the moment I’m enjoying the scenery.

Structure Habits – Undoing the Damage

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 | Back Pain, Self Care | 1 Comment

Have you noticed that the information age lends to some unsightly postural habits? We perch in front of our computers, back hunched over, shoulders rolled forward, legs crossed at the knee or ankle, perhaps chin in hand as we stare at the screen reading a riveting blog. Such a position is comfortable and doesn’t seem like such a big deal until something starts to ache.

As creatures of habit, there are many other ways we develop patterns of holding our bodies. Crossing your legs the same way every time, wearing high heels more often than not, how you sleep, how you hold a baby, how you sit when you drive, having a wallet in your back pocket and sitting on it for long hours (Sciatica anyone?)… all of these things can develop into a habit that effects the balance of your body. At Custom Comfort Massage Therapy, we call these habits “chronic holding patterns” and they are, more often than not, the cause of your varying aches and pains.

Take charge, make a change.

Dare I say that we have the ability to individually effect healthcare reform? It might sound extreme, and like the common perception of “Going Green”, it may seem like one person changing their habits won’t make a difference, but that way of thinking is also called a domino effect of apathy. If nothing else, we can make a difference in our own world.

What do you do if your back starts to ache from sitting a certain way? Do you get up from your office chair and walk around? If you’re like me and have worked at a desk for a number of years, chronic holding patterns will eventually catch up with you, despite your best efforts to avoid being in the same position for hours on end. Some culprits for our problems are more obvious than others. Other culprits are not so obvious and one itty-bitty habit can effect a seemingly unrelated part of the body or act as the instigator in a ripple effect for many parts of the body.

A common thought in these cases is, “It’s nothing I need to see a doctor for, it’s just really annoying.” Or maybe a person does see a see a doctor and the doctor prescribes an anti-inflamatory. In any case, there may be something you can do that you may not be aware of.  The key is awareness. We believe it’s the key to maintaining balanced health and wellness.

For example.

I can’t think of a better example of chronic holding patterns to use than myself. For several months (maybe even more than a year) I have had quite annoying aching in my knees. I wondered if I was just getting arthritic in my old age. Ok, I’m not so old, but it’s not uncommon to have arthritis at a semi-young age, especially since there is a history of the disease in my family. But then I saw actual arthritic knees in a cadaver lab, studied chronic holding patterns, and learned where the quad/thigh muscles attach to the bone–via a ligament that crosses the knee cap. That’s when the awareness kicked in. It was a definite Aha! moment for me.

I have had full-time desk jobs for 14 years. Somewhere along the jounrey, I developed a habit of crossing my ankles and tucking my feet under my chair as I work on the computer. Since I learned how to be more aware and took inventory of all my chronic holding patterns and aches that might be associated, I recognized my tuck-under habit as the culprit of my aching knees. That tendon crossing my knee is being stretched each time I resume the position, effecting the patella (knee cap; primary location of my discomfort) and other ligaments in the surrounding area. Once I recognized the relationship, I started to make a change and have felt relief because of it.

There’s also the problem of my rolled forward spine and shoulders. The muscles (i.e. abs, pectoral) supporting the sitting-up-straight position have become too weak over time to support my body the way they should.

Undoing the habit.

There are a few steps I have taken to help correct my pattern.

1. Awareness – I uncross my legs and sit up straight a lot more often and more quickly than I used to.

2. Massage - Being able to pinpoint the primary target of my discomfort has been essential in recieving bodywork to help my aching back and legs. With Deep Tissue-Structural massage techniques, we as therapists are able to help the muscles realign and support our bones they way they should.

3. Exercise – I have found that Yoga and sitting on an exercise ball while I’m at the computer for an hour at a time have both been very helpful tools. The combination of these things has also increased the time I am able to sit and play the piano.

At Custom Comfort Massage Therapy, we assess the entire body to determine what might be the root of the problem. In addition to taking a thorough intake of the client’s activities and habits, we will coach you on how to be aware of your chronic holding patterns and help you overcome them. I have seen the effects of Deep Tissue-Structural massage and coaching in a few of my clients. The result is better quality of life and less stress because now they know they can do something about it themselves.

Client Matters No. 002: Infant & Prenatal Massage

Saturday, June 20th, 2009 | Client Stories, Self Care | 2 Comments

Some of the greatest experiences I have had as a massage therapist have been from performing infant massage and prenatal massage. Fortunately for me, I had a sister-in-law who was pregnant and had her baby girl while I was learning the techniques and she was willing to let me practice on her and her baby. I also have worked on several other pregnant clients including those who came into UCMT clinic.

My sister-in-law presented a unique problem with her pregnancy called Sciatica which I will spend more time on in a later post. But overall, she believes that because of regular massage therapy sessions with me, her pregnancy was the easiest of her three and she recovered more quickly after labor and delivery. Here, here!

Blessed as I was to work with her through her pregnancy, I was again honored when she asked me to be in the delivery room. During her labor contractions she asked me to massage her back. She wasn’t sure she wanted me to touch her during the contractions, thinking of her pior experience where her desire was to NOT be touched during the contractions. As it turned out, she learned the difference was massage as opposed to simple touch or rubbing.

Why massage helps aleviate pain.

When you stub your toe, what’s the first thing you do? Reach down and grab your toe, right? How about when you bump your elbow or arm? Do you rub it to sooth the sudden pain? The reason we do this is because our bodies know what they’re doing. Reaching to our owie is a reflex generated by the central nervous system (CNS) for good reason.

The same can be said for massaging a woman’s back while in labor. Manipulating the tissue at and around the area of the pain tells the associated nerves to be sedated, chill out, all will be well. Most pain medication works in a similar way–it’s about confusing the pain receptors. The medication sends a chemical to your brain that blocks the signal that says, “you’re in pain, you’re in pain, you’re in pain.” The pain is still there, your brain just doesn’t get the message.

In the end, sister-in-law said she wished I had been in the delivery room with her other two pregnancies.

And then came baby.

I went to visit my beautiful new baby neice in the hospital about 15 hours after she was born. When her mom told me that she was a little concerned because baby hadn’t nursed for more than 5 minutes at a time or had a bowel movement, I was eager to try infant massage techniques. I worked on baby for about 15 minutes and then said my goodbyes. Sis-in-law called me an hour later to share her excitement. Approximately 30 minutes after I left, baby filled her diaper and then nursed for 30 minutes straight. Of course I was excited and anxious to see if it wasn’t just a fluke.

After baby’s two-week check up, sis-in-law brought her to see me. She said baby had not had a bowel movement for a few days. I again worked on baby for about 15 minutes. The same thing happened as before. And a few weeks later when I saw baby, she was doing well, but I massaged her anyway. Next morning sis-in-law called to say baby had slept longer during the night than she had ever slept since she was born. We’ve tried these techniques many times since and continue to see positive results each time.

Infant Massage Classes for the Parents.

Just last night I was at a function where a woman in the party was saying her new infant (not her first child) doesn’t have regular bowel movements. Her follow up statement was basically that it was no big deal. While it’s not a big deal unless it goes on for too long, it is a great idea for baby to be regular, just as it is for an adult. While regularity also depends on the mother’s diet if baby is breast fed, there’s additional help in massage.

Coming up, I will be teaching an Infant Massage class for parents. The benefits for parents and baby are invaluable including, help with colic, regulates sleep patterns, imporved growth rate, stimulates brain development, babies cry less, helps the mother in post-partum, and more. Please stay tuned for the class scheduled date.

Welcome! / Client Matters No. 001

Thursday, May 28th, 2009 | Client Stories, Self Care | No Comments

Welcome to our blog! We are excited to finally be at this stage in the process of going live with our website and business.

I have been thinking about this first post for a few months now and I instinctively wanted to write about how much we love what we do, but I think I covered that enough in my story in the About Us section. Instead, we’ve decided to create a series of posts called Client Matters where we will let the stories of our experiences speak for themselves. Even if you’ve experienced or have read about the many benefits of massage therapy, keep coming back here to see that it’s about more than the typical image of massage. I’ll start right off with an example.

Client Matters, No. 001

I choose first to tell you of my client Emma (names will always be changed) whom I treated at UCMT clinic. Emma was in her 60’s and had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Much of her left side was fairly useless. She cradled her left arm in front of her abdomen while her right arm steadied her gait with the assistance of a cane. She had an implant in her hip that triggered an impulse to the nerves in her left leg telling it to lift a half of an inch off of the floor so she didn’t have to drag her foot. This is what MS does. The electrical impulses from the brain to other areas of the body are firing incorrectly or not at all. I was amazed by the miracles of science as I walked the 30 yards down the hall with Emma. 

What impressed me the most about Emma was the spirit of this woman. She was so sweet and positive during the entire session. While working with her, it became clear that she would not be able to turn over on the table from her back (supine) to her front (prone) and so I carefully assisted her in this. And yet she showed no sign of embarrassment in needing my help. I’m sure she had become used to people helping her over time (she had been diagnosed in her 30’s), but I thought about how a person could let an disease like that canker their soul. Emma told me that she relied on frequent massages for her MS as a way to help her function. Although she only felt a very little on her left side during the massage, she said there was always a noticeable difference in the usage of her leg and arm after the therapy.

I tell you of Emma because she left a lasting impression and I felt honored to work with her. A huge part of being a massage therapist is being present for the client, or as one of our instructors stated, “taking our backpack off” which holds all of our personal baggage–worries of the day, life, emotions–and setting it aside to focus on the needs of our client. To experience the spirit of Emma in that way was a blessing and because of this, and many other experiences like it, I look forward to the challenge of that step in the process with each client.

What Else We’ll Be Jabbering About

In addition to sharing our experiences with clients here, we’ll also be writing about health and wellness topics that we think are great ideas or things we’ve tried for ourselves. If you’ll notice, our home page doesn’t say we believe in the importance of living a balanced life, but working toward a balanced life. That’s because achieving balance can lead to feeling discouragement when we make mistakes, as we all do. But the goal is to keep a positive attitude and don’t give up on ourselves. There are so many wonderful ways to encourage balance and contentment. We hope you will come back frequently, make comments and share your ideas with us as we share ours.