Can you massage abdominal adhesions?

Author: Dr. Shakira Roob  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The short answer is yes, but with certain caveats. While massage cannot completely eliminate adhesions, it can help to soften and stretch the scar tissue, improving mobility, reducing pain, and alleviating some of the associated symptoms.

Can massage break up abdominal adhesions?

Yes they can! Scar massage is one way to break up adhesions after surgery2. Scar massage is different from other forms of massage. Scar massage happens just around and over the scar in order to stretch the scar and bring back normal movement.

How do you loosen abdominal adhesions?

If abdominal adhesions cause symptoms or complications, doctors can release the adhesions with laparoscopic or open surgery. However, surgery to treat adhesions may cause new adhesions to form. If you have abdominal adhesions, talk with your doctor about the possible benefits and risks of surgery.

What is the best pain relief for abdominal adhesions?

If pain is a symptom, then over the counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen is usually recommended initially but if these do not help then the patient should see a doctor who can recommend other treatments and consider referral to a pain specialist.

What is the best way to break up adhesions?

Solutions include:
  1. Active release therapy involves applying pressure to trigger points. ...
  2. Heat therapy involves applying a heat pad to the tightened area until it starts to loosen.
  3. Yoga therapy involves specific poses to address pain stemming from the adhesion.

Abdominal Massage for Adhesions (Bloating, IBS, SIBO, IBD)

When is it too late to massage scar tissue?

For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.

How do you get rid of stomach adhesions without surgery?

Non-surgical treatments for adhesions
  1. medication – this is often the first treatment choice for acute pain and forms part of the treatment for chronic pain.
  2. exercise.
  3. physical therapy.
  4. lifestyle changes.
  5. soft tissue mobilisation (Wasserman et al 2019)

What causes abdominal adhesions to flare up?

Abdominal organs handled by the surgical team are shifted temporarily from their normal positions. In some people, this stimulates excessive formation of scar tissue. Adhesions can also form in people who develop peritonitis, an infection that has spread to the membrane that covers the abdominal organs.

Can a heating pad help with abdominal adhesions?

Put a heating pad set on low on your belly to relieve mild cramps and pain. Put a thin cloth between the heating pad and your skin. Do not go to sleep with a heating pad on your skin.

Can massage break up scar tissue?

The most common situations a massage can help to break down scar tissue include acute pain, post-surgery and scarring. A massage can reduce acute pain by breaking down scar tissue.

Is walking good for abdominal adhesions?

Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay.

Does stretching break up adhesions?

Therapeutic exercises — Weaker or recently formed adhesions can be broken up by certain stretches. Your physical therapists can show you how to do specific therapeutic exercises that can stretch your muscles and break up adhesions.

Is it okay to massage your abdomen?

Abdominal massage treatment may help to reeducate the muscles that control bowel movements and reduce symptoms of constipation and generalized pelvic and abdominal pain. Time the massage to coincide to when you might usually move your bowels; if possible, try to do it once in the morning.

Does heat help muscle adhesions?

Fascia adhesions tend to feel better with movement and also respond well to heat therapy, which helps bring back the tissue's elasticity. For some people, adhesions can worsen over time, causing the fascia to compress and contort the muscles it surrounds.

What is the best massage for adhesions?

Techniques such as myofascial release, deep tissue massage, and soft tissue mobilisation are particularly effective in treating adhesions. These methods work by gently stretching the scar tissue and surrounding muscles, increasing flexibility and reducing the tension that often accompanies adhesions.

How do you stretch abdominal adhesions?

Kneel on the floor with your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Slowly drop your tummy towards the floor arching your spine and lift your head and chest looking up to the ceiling. Stop when you start to feel a stretch. Try not to let your shoulders rise up towards your ears.

What kind of doctor treats abdominal wall pain?

Emergencies that cause abdominal pain in adults are diagnosed and treated in the emergency room and the hospital. Surgeons, ER doctors, and doctors who specialize in the digestive system (gastroenterologists) may work to treat these emergent issues.

How do you break up abdominal adhesions?

Two common surgical techniques used to treat abdominal adhesions are laparoscopy and laparotomy. With laparoscopy, a doctor places a camera into your body through a small hole in the skin to confirm that adhesions exist. The adhesions then are cut and released (adhesiolysis).

What autoimmune disease causes adhesions?

Elevated levels of adhesion molecules was found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Antibodies that block the association between integrins and ligands have shown significant efficacy in autoimmune disease, including multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Do abdominal adhesions ever go away?

Adhesions can sometimes cause infertility in women by preventing fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus. No tests are available to detect adhesions. Doctors usually find them during surgery to diagnose other problems. Some adhesions go away by themselves.

Can bromelain break down scar tissue?

Bromelain has been approved by the Ger- man Commission E for postsurgical and/or posttraumatic edema, particular- ly of the nasal and paranasal sinuses char- acteristic of some plastic surgery. A patented cutaneous tape containing bromelain is also available in Europe for debriding scar tissue.

What foods should I avoid with adhesions?

High fibre and high residue foods tend to be harder to digest, and therefore often need to be excluded from the diet whilst you have a stricture or adhesion. You may be asked to reduce your intake of harder to digest foods, such as: Certain fruits and vegetables (e.g. where you consume the skins, seeds and pips)

How to loosen a bowel blockage at home?

Here are 13 natural home remedies to relieve constipation.
  1. Drink more water. ...
  2. Eat more fiber, especially soluble, non-fermentable fiber. ...
  3. Exercise more. ...
  4. Drink coffee, especially caffeinated coffee. ...
  5. Take Senna, an herbal laxative. ...
  6. Eat probiotic foods or take probiotic supplements. ...
  7. Over-the-counter or prescription laxatives.

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