Scar tissue is weaker, rigid and much more sensitive to painful sensation than normal and healthy skin tissue.  Thus, most scars have continuing pain years following the initial wound.  In addition, the surrounding area of the scars can also experience the following discomforts:

• Nerve impingement
• Numbness
• Confined range of movement
• Loss of or confined flexibility
• Misalignment in posture
• Muscle atrophy
• Tissue hypoxia
• Increase in probability for future harm

Scar Traits

Scar formation changes from person to person.  Nonetheless, they share more or less recognizable traits:

• They eventually harden and get stiff
• The skin stiffens and restricts the range of motion or causes deformity around the area
• The scar becomes dry and can easily re-injure the wound if not managed properly. This is especially a problem for skin grafts because they do not produce oil or sweat

Scar Healing

A scar healing process consists of two stages:

• Immature - at this stage, the scar has just formed immediately after the wound cures.  The scar can yet be irritating, itchy and tender tissue.  It is normally reddish.
• Mature - the scar has completely healed the wound.  This happens after 3 to 18 months depending on the severeness and depth of the wound.  The reddish color has faded.

At the immature stage, exercise, massage and heat application will get the biggest positive effect in thinning scar tissue.  While at the mature stage, a more robust approach is necessary to shrink scar tissue.

Massaging Scar Tissue

A good and frequently utilized massage technique for thinning scar tissue is by utilizing cross-fiber friction.  This technique is used by massage therapists to reduce the roughness of the tissue and soften any adhesions.  Pressure is used with the tips of the fingers on the scar with a cross movement without skidding over the skin.

This massaging technique is easy to do and can be practiced by following these steps:

• Brace finger or thumb and apply a little amount of force to the scar
• Stroke the surface with a circular or side-by-side movement without sliding over the scar
• As the area warms up and is more relaxed, you can go a little deeper

Mostly, by consistently massaging the scar tissue, the less possibility of developing long term discomforts.

Massage should not be done throughout the area when the injury is yet new, wait until the injury is completely knitted.  It is significant that the initial approach is soft to keep from breaking up the wound.

Massaging over scar tissue can cause discomfort and should always work within the individual's comfort level.  In time, the pain will let up as excess scar tissue vanishes and remaining scar tissue lines up.  Warming up the area will relax the tissue and lessen the pain.