What is ScarWork?

ScarWork therapy is a gentle, painfree range of techniques that encourage the softening of naturally occurring scar tissue arising from either surgery or accidental trauma.

 

Working to improve the movement and feeling in the scar, the therapist adapts their touch, pressure and/or technique to the surrounding tissues, creating better movement between the layers of the skin, fascia (connective tissue) and muscle.

 

 

Will my scar change?

After treatment scars often appear smaller, flatter, lighter in colour and less prominent, however the emphasis is on the hidden underlying tissue changes. As the dense scar tissue reduces and the tissue health recovers, nerve impairment such as numbness, pain, itching, irritation or extreme sensitivity often improves.

 

Treatments are pain-free, making them ideal for children or anyone with extremely sensitive scars, working at your level of comfort, over time sensitivity can be improved as the nerves in the scar area relax and desensitise. Most people hate to touch their scars or have anyone else touch them. I too have scars, so I understand this, but eventually the ScarWork will change not only the appearance of the scar, improve the movement, but it will also help you emotionally. It is extremely powerful.

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Problems from scar tissue can cause wider issues in our body. For example, the most common secondary problem from caesarean scars is lower back and pelvic pain. 

 

 

How does it work?

ScarWork therapy works directly on the scar tissue with the therapist using specially developed movements across the surrounding area, to release any underlying adhesions and reducing restrictions of movement between the tissues, organs and muscles.

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Our nerves, blood vascular and lymphatic vessels are wrapped in layers of connective tissue or fascia. Changes that occur to the scar and nerve function are usually permanent.

 

Tension in surrounding tissues is reduced helping restore normal muscle function. Lumpy, tight or ropey scars are softened and loosened, ridges and holes can be minimised. Multiple treatments are usually needed to gain the most benefit and response to treatment will vary for each individual.

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As skin is healing after an operation or accident, different layers under the skin get adhered – stuck together – as the body rushes to close and heal the wound. ScarWork stimulates the area, these movements seem to encourage further natural healing to take place and helps to release these stuck layers to allow better function and movement in the scar and surrounding tissues.

 

ScarWork stimulates the area surrounding the scar tissue. If a recent scar then these movements seem to encourage further natural healing to take place and helps to release these stuck layers to allow better function and movement in the scar and surrounding tissues. 

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However it is safe to say that honestly we do not yet fully understand how ScarWork works! Research is ongoing into the power of the light touch approach, but empirical evidence demonstrates its effectiveness. 

 

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Can you treat old scars?

Yes! It is never too late…scars can be very old and still improve with ScarWork treatment.

 

Many different kinds of scars can benefit from this specialised scar massage. It is important that before treatment scars are healed, dry and infection free. Scars could be the result of an accident, operation, including cosmetic surgery, or a burn.

 

Abdominal surgery,  Abdominoplasty,  Appendix removal,  Breast augmentation,  Caesarean section,  Cancer surgery,  Knee surgery,  Mastectomy,  Open heart surgery,  Portacath and tube/drain sites,  Spinal surgery,  Childhood injury,  Facial scars,  Foot surgery,  Gallbladder removal,  Hip replacement,  Hysterectomy

 

ScarWork was developed by Sharon Wheeler from Seattle, USA. Sharon is a Rolfer, or Structural Integration therapist who trained with the founder of Rolfing Dr Ida P. Rolf in 1970. Throughout her career Sharon developed the ScarWork techniques and having established that these techniques were completely unique and able to stimulate change other scar tissue treatments were not able to produce, she began a training programme.

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