Does stretching break up adhesions?

Author: Preston Gibson  |  Last update: Thursday, November 13, 2025

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.

Does stretching get rid of adhesions?

Similar to foam rolling, when you stretch consistently, the adhesions become loosened, and you will slowly regain an increased range of motion.

What is the best way to break up adhesions?

One of the most effective methods is called instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). This technique makes use of metal tools. The tools are designed to fit specific areas of the body, and they allow therapists to apply therapeutic pressure. It's this pressure that helps break up adhesions.

Can you break up scar tissue by stretching?

The real solution, he says, is supporting the remodeling process of scar tissue, stressing it in a way that ensures it regains normal range of motion, strength and mobility. First-line therapy typically includes: Manual stretch therapy. Joint mobility exercises.

How do you dissolve adhesions?

Treatment of adhesions. Adhesions can be treated either with open or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, known as adhesiolysis. The adhesions are cut by scalpel or electrical current.

The (Non)Sense of Foam Rolling and Breaking Up Adhesions/Fascia

Can you loosen adhesions?

If abdominal adhesions don't cause symptoms or complications, they typically don't need treatment. If abdominal adhesions cause symptoms or complications, doctors can release the adhesions with laparoscopic or open surgery.

How do you break down muscle adhesions?

Treatment for Muscle Adhesion
  • Active release therapy involves applying pressure to trigger points. ...
  • Heat therapy involves applying a heat pad to the tightened area until it starts to loosen.
  • Yoga therapy involves specific poses to address pain stemming from the adhesion.

Can you break up adhesions with massage?

A deep tissue massage breaks down adhesions and collagen fibres that can be caused as a result of scar tissue. Adhesions restrict movement and increase pain resulting in an increase in stress. Breaking down scar tissue through deep tissue massage relieves restriction to decrease pain and reduce stress.

What does pain from adhesions feel like?

However, they can cause kinks or twists in the gut, reducing the movement of the gut, causing obstruction and other symptoms, including recurrent episodes of colicky (cramping) abdominal pain, bloating, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick) and a change in stool frequency and consistency.

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.

What causes adhesions to flare up?

Adhesions occur when there's injury or inflammation in your abdomen. They can even form from normal handling during surgery. In fact, they're most common after abdominal surgery. As a natural part of healing, scar tissue forms that can cause tissues to stiffen and stick together (“adhere”).

Can you massage out abdominal adhesions?

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.

How long do muscle adhesions take to heal?

The Connective Tissue Healing Process

This last step, the remodeling process, when left on its own can take as little as 3 days, but typically takes 30 days to 2 years, and in some cases never truly reorganizes in a proper pattern. Scar tissue or adhesions lead to a variety of symptoms such as: Reduced Range of Motion.

Does walking help 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.

How do you break up adhesions at home?

Cross Friction Massage

This technique involves applying deep, perpendicular strokes across the scar tissue to break up adhesions and promote healing.

Does exercise break up adhesions?

These new crisscrossed fibrous bands are called adhesions. When you perform light exercise to relieve sore muscles after exercise, these adhesions break up and may help to loosen your tight muscles. At the Fascia Institute and Treatment Center, we use a technique called a hydrodissection to release fascial adhesions.

What is the best pain relief for adhesions?

We conclude that pregabalin significantly reduced patient-documented pain scores compared with placebo in our small cohort of patients with abdominal adhesion pain.

How long does it take for adhesions to go away?

You may be able to return to normal activities after 2 to 4 weeks. Your bowel movements may not be regular for several weeks. And you may have some blood in your stool. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.

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)

Does stretching remove adhesions?

Therapeutic exercises — Weaker or recently formed adhesions can be broken up by certain stretches.

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.

Does stretching break up scar tissue?

Mild-to-moderate exercise increases circulation and improves range of motion. Targeted exercise also helps prevent and reduce scar tissue overgrowth. Stretching promotes proper remodeling and improves scar tissue flexibility.

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.

Why are adhesions so painful?

Organs in the peritoneal cavity (pelvic/abdominal space) normally slide freely against each other and adhesions can hinder this movement leading to such complications as pain, infertility and bowel obstruction.

How do you break up scar tissue in muscle?

Once an area of abnormal tissue and scar formation is located, the doctor uses the various instruments to apply deep tissue massage to break down the scar tissue. This procedure stimulates a local inflammatory response which initiates the healing process for soft tissue repair.

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