Can I break up scar tissue that has formed for a year?

Start with massage or ART.

Start with Graston (www.grastontechnique.com). It is by far more effective for this than ART or massage. Find someone to do both Graston and ART and that is your best shot.

Deep tissue massage worked for me, twice, from a hamstring pull, and from a painful bit of scar tissue near my scapula from a lifting accident.

I takes time. The hamstring took about two months.

The scapula area, maybe a few years, and once it was gone I was totally shocked, didn't think it would ever "dissolve."

ASTM PT is effective and research based

I am rehabbing a very similar hamstring issue. Several strains over a year that resulted in scar tissue. I did 8 sessions of A-Stym massage with a PT along with stretching and strengthening--ended in early November, and I am still doing quite a bit myself.

It has gotten better, but it has been a slog. Someone on these very boards warned me it would take a while but that it would go away. What I have found is that all my surrounding muscles are off-balance because they spent so long protecting my weak biceps femoris. As the muscle has strengthened now I get soreness in the tendon. You get the idea...

I wish I would have gotten PT sooner. It does make a difference. I have accepted it may take a while to recover and it may never be the same but it is WAY better than it was before.

Hahaha do what you want.

All of these modalities have zero evidence supporting them, just brand-name proselytizers who liked the particular placebo effect they got.

I've had good success with ART, and performing ART on myself. Half of the track coaches I know perform ART with no training and have good success.

I have a pulled groin also, and I've had good success with the stretches and exercises in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vGqXstaAvM&list=FL0b-0uv0Z7DqsQ9LmnsN3MQ&index=5

I have no connection to the guy in the video or his products. But, I like his routine.

First mistake is treating the just the effect, not the cause. Get your butt over to a P.T. who is good with runners.

Midfontaine wrote:

Deep tissue massage worked for me, twice, from a hamstring pull, and from a painful bit of scar tissue near my scapula from a lifting accident.

I takes time. The hamstring took about two months.

The scapula area, maybe a few years, and once it was gone I was totally shocked, didn't think it would ever "dissolve."

This is correct. The challenge is finding a legitmate practitioner.

The a legitimate deep tissue therapist is going so slow and deep that they will only cover an area comparable to the palm of your hand.

It will be VERY uncomfortable, but not painful, if done well.

Hi.

I did it very successfully after having suffered for 3 years (same as you, adductors).

Following the advice of a masseur I would massage the area until I couldn't take the pain anymore. Better done in/after the shower or even better in a bath as the heat will help relax the muscles.

I was healed after a month and never had problems there again.

Second mistake, assuming that whatever worked for John Doe should work for you, too. Look, every person's injury has it's own cause, and you are just shooting in the dark by trying to do this based on someone else's personal experience. I'm not saying that their suggestions are bad, but they may not be the key piece of the treatment for you. Sure, it may not hurt to try, but if you want to increase the chances of getting back to running as quickly as possible with least chance of re-injuring this or injuring something else, get in with the best runner-treating P.T. you can find.

sprinthard wrote:

I've had good success with ART, and performing ART on myself. Half of the track coaches I know perform ART with no training and have good success.

I have a pulled groin also, and I've had good success with the stretches and exercises in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vGqXstaAvM&list=FL0b-0uv0Z7DqsQ9LmnsN3MQ&index=5

I have no connection to the guy in the video or his products. But, I like his routine.

Where did you learn art technique? Is it something I could learn to do on my own?

Having runners pay attention to this issue is the best end of year gift I could get!

I have partially solved my adductor issues with a combination of PRP, PT, stretching, and strengthening exercises. But, I need 1-2 days off per week; any more running than that and it gets too stiff and I´m concerned about re-injury.

I tore my adductor slipping on ice while hiking on a mountain. I let it heal on its own, which was foolish. It did not heal well and gradually running became so painful that I had to stop for 8 months. I eventually started PT which helped break up a considerable amount of scar tissue. After 1 month I had PRP to help fix the point of tear.

Two months after PRP I slowly started running again using a program pioneered by the University of Wisconsin. I can run 5-6x per week now with varying degrees of comfort. Some days I feel like my old self, other days I am stiff and slow.

Thanks to everyone who posted. My job sucks the life out of me so I don´t have much time for more PT, which is what I probably need, but there are some great ideas here that I can try out.

To provide a benchmark for my earlier response, I am in my mid 30s.

Kvothe,

I had ART performed on me by a practitioner, and I've just copied what he did ever since. If I have a new area I need worked on, I just google or youtube Active Release Technique and the area I'm having problems with, and there are usually a number of videos explaining how to work that area of the body.

MD calling quackery wrote:

get used to it.. wrote:

Start with Graston (www.grastontechnique.com). It is by far more effective for this than ART or massage. Find someone to do both Graston and ART and that is your best shot.

Hahaha do what you want.

All of these modalities have zero evidence supporting them, just brand-name proselytizers who liked the particular placebo effect they got.

Graston works for me. I limp in and walk out pain free. That's all the evidence I need.

Hey Niyonbongo,

i have read you comment on adductor pain and have to admit that i face exact the same issue as you did. Following, i would be more than thankful if you could describe you recovery timeline ( as you described with "hard" massage ) a little more precise. I am having similar issues for about 2 years now and could really use some advice.

Best wishes

Daniel

You or someone can massage scar tissue out - Active Release Therapy (ART) is great for this.

Is there any proof scar tissue (that is quite extensive) can be broken down by massage? Are adhesions as a source of inflammation proven?

Or has science not answered these questions?