Highlights
- •Research into scar massage following surgery is heterogenous in nature.
- •Scar massage may improve scar characteristics, reduce pain and increase movement.
- •There is a lack of consistency in how scar massage is implemented and evaluated.
- •There is a need for further research to substantiate its use in clinical settings.
Abstract
Background
Scar massage is a widely used treatment modality in hand therapy. This intervention
is thoroughly discussed in the literature relating to burns rehabilitation, however,
the evidence for its use in treating linear scars following surgery is limited.
Purpose of study
To collate the empirical literature on scar massage for the treatment of postsurgical
cutaneous scars.
Study Design
Scoping review.
Methods
Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, and
the Joanna Briggs Institute were searched from inception to December 2020. Two researchers
used a data extraction tool to record key demographic, intervention and outcome data,
and to apply the Oxford Levels of Evidence for each study.
Results
Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on a combined sample of
1515 participants. Only two papers addressed hand or wrist scars (92 participants).
While all studies reported favorable outcomes for scar massage, there were 45 different
outcome measures used and a propensity towards non-standardized assessment. Intervention
protocols varied from a single session to three treatments daily for 6 months. The
results from 13 studies were confounded by the implementation of additional rehabilitation
interventions.
Conclusions
The overall findings suggest that while there may be benefits to scar massage in reducing
pain, increasing movement and improving scar characteristics; there is a lack of consistent
research methods, intervention protocols and outcome measures. This scoping review
highlights the heterogenous nature of research into scar massage following surgery
and supports the need for further research to substantiate its use in the clinical
setting.
Keywords
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JHT Read for Credit
Quiz: # 850
Record your answers on the Return Answer Form found on the tear-out coupon at the back of this issue or to complete online and use a credit card, go to JHTReadforCredit.com. There is only one best answer for each question.
- # 1.The study dealt with
- a.any and all scars
- b.bun scars
- c.linear post-surgery scars
- d.Z-plasty post-surgery scars
- a.
- # 2.The massage technique was
- a.varied from report to report
- b.uniform for all reported cases
- c.50% myofascial, 50% deep friction
- d.not specified in the study
- a.
- # 3.Data was gleaned from
- a.EMBASE
- b.CINAHL
- c.AMED
- d.all of the above
- a.
- # 4.Making definitive conclusions was hampered by
- a.too many published studies
- b.poor research methodology
- c.confounding by additional interventions
- d.diverse interpretation of results
- a.
- # 5.The literature demonstrated the efficacy of scar massage
- a.true
- b.false
- a.
When submitting to the HTCC for re-certification, please batch your JHT RFC certificates in groups of 3 or more to get full credit.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 25, 2022
Accepted:
January 21,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 21,
2021
Received:
July 1,
2021
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
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