Adhesions/Scar Tissue
💡 What Are Adhesions?
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that form when your body heals after trauma, inflammation, or surgery (Welle et al., 2023).
Normally, your organs, muscles, and connective tissues slide smoothly against each other. But when adhesions form, those tissues can stick together, limiting movement and sometimes causing pain or dysfunction. Adhesions can be found almost anywhere in the body (abdomen, joints, tendons, pelvis).
⚠️ Common Problems Adhesions Can Cause
Over time, this dense tissue restricts normal movement, pulling on nearby structures and nerves. This can lead to stiffness, pain, or even functional problems like bowel obstruction or limited joint motion (Deng, 2024, Vahdatpour et al., 2013, Welle et al., 2023).
Depending on where they form, adhesions can lead to:
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Pain or discomfort (especially with movement)
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Restricted mobility or loss of range of motion
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Post-surgical tightness around scars or incision sites
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Tendon stiffness or “tugging” sensations in soft tissue
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Organ dysfunction (in the case of abdominal or pelvic adhesions)
This is where shockwave therapy can make a real difference.
💥 How Shockwave Therapy Helps Break the Cycle
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic sound waves to deliver targeted energy into tissue. These waves trigger powerful biological responses that help remodel scar tissue, reduce stiffness, and restore mobility.
Research studies highlights several key effects (Moortgat, 2020):
1. Stimulates Tissue Regeneration
Shockwaves encourage fibroblast activity, helping the body replace rigid collagen with healthier, more flexible tissue.
2. Breaks Down Fibrotic Tissue
The mechanical energy of the waves helps soften and disrupt dense adhesions, restoring glide between tissue layers.
3. Improves Blood Flow & Healing
Shockwaves promote angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) and nitric oxide release, improving circulation and oxygen delivery for better healing.
4. Reduces Pain
They help regulate pain signals and reduce chronic inflammation, offering both structural and symptomatic relief.
References/Resources
Deng, K., Li, E., Li, G., Ren, Y., Shen, T., Jiang, Z., Li, X., & Zhou, C. (2024, April 25). Research landscape of abdominal adhesions from 2004 to 2023: A Bibliometric analysis. Heliyon. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11068820/
Moortgat, P. (2020, December 8). Shock wave therapy for wound healing and scar treatment. Textbook on Scar Management: State of the Art Management and Emerging Technologies [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK586112/
Vahdatpour, B., Alizadeh, F., Moayednia, A., Emadi, M., Khorami, M. H., & Haghdani, S. (2013, August 28). Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized, controlled trial. ISRN urology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3755541/
Vahdatpour, B., Taheri, P., Zade, A. Z., & Moradian, S. (2014, July). Efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in Frozen Shoulder. International journal of preventive medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4124565/
Welle, N. J. (2023, March 11). Bowel adhesions. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470544/
