Over time, the body sustains all imaginable types of damage and compensates accordingly. In the case of overuse or repetitive strain injuries, the body tries to protect the overworked areas by developing scar tissue around injury-prone muscles, ligaments and joints. This can lead to any number of issues, many of them quite painful. These issues are commonly treated with surgery, which may not only be ineffective in some cases, but can result in the development of even more scar tissue. In chiropractic medicine, a procedure called the active scar release technique is rising in popularity.
What is active scar release technique?
The active scar release technique is designed to break up scar tissue that impinges on nerves and, in some cases, joints. Research has shown that many types of back and joint pain is caused by excess scar tissue around overused areas, to the point that it actually crowds out nerves. This can cause severe chronic pain, especially if the overuse continues.
What does active scar release treat?
Active scar release technique is most commonly used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, or symptoms that are commonly diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome that may or may not involve the same nerves. The treatment has also shown to be effective in treating some types of back pain, pain associated with athletic injuries or overuse, and other injuries and disorders associated with repetitive strain.
Who can administer active scar release treatment?
Though active scar release is part of chiropractic medicine, you can’t get it from just any chiropractor. Active scar release is a specialty procedure that requires specific certification. This certification is given after the chiropractor has successfully completed training with masters in the technique, and has been able to demonstrate that he or she can perform the technique properly.
What can a patient expect during treatment?
Generally, someone can expect a couple of different treatments for the same nerve impingement, and occasionally more. Treatments are done during a short office visit, and generally involve little pain. Some patients have reported that it hurts during the actual treatment, but it is described as a good pain like a joint popping back into place. Reportedly, the pain does not linger after treatment.
How safe is active scar release?
When the treatment is done by a chiropractor specifically trained in the technique, the risk of active scar release is reportedly very low. Compared to the risks involved in surgery, active scar release is considered much safer because there is no risk of allergic reactions to anesthesia, no risk of infection, and no recovery time. Some sources state that active scar release also has a much better success rate than surgery in conditions where it’s applicable, though the actual data is still being verified.
Overall, active scar release treatment is seen as an effective, safe, and relatively inexpensive treatment for pain due to nerve impingement. While studies are ongoing, many chronic pain sufferers and professional athletes have experienced significant alleviation of symptoms immediately following active scar release treatment.
