Breaking Up Adhesions: A Comprehensive Physical Therapy Guide

September 1, 2025
Written By Admin

Muscle adhesions can significantly impact an individual’s mobility, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility. Physical therapy offers specialized techniques to address these challenging soft tissue restrictions, helping patients restore normal muscle function and alleviate discomfort. At Bearden Medical Clinic, our expert physical therapists understand the complex nature of adhesions and provide targeted treatments to help patients regain optimal movement and quality of life.

Understanding Adhesions in Physical Therapy

Adhesions, also known as scar tissue, develop when muscles experience injury or prolonged stress. These tough, fibrous bands of tissue can form between muscle layers, restricting movement and causing localized pain. Unlike healthy muscle tissue, adhesions are less flexible and can pull joints out of alignment, creating additional complications for patients.

Physical Therapy Methods for Breaking Up Adhesions

1. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

IASTM is a precise technique where physical therapists use specialized stainless steel tools to:

  • Locate deep scar tissue
  • Apply targeted pressure
  • Break up adhesive tissue with controlled movements
  • Stimulate healing and improved circulation

2. Manual Therapy Techniques

Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques to:

  • Apply direct pressure to adhesive areas
  • Create friction to break down scar tissue
  • Improve muscle fiber realignment
  • Restore natural tissue mobility

3. Therapeutic Stretching

Carefully designed stretching protocols help:

  • Gradually elongate restricted muscle groups
  • Increase blood flow to affected areas
  • Promote natural tissue remodeling
  • Restore range of motion

4. Cupping Therapy

This innovative technique uses specialized cups to:

  • Create negative pressure on skin
  • Improve local circulation
  • Lift and separate muscle layers
  • Encourage natural adhesion breakdown

Who Can Benefit from Adhesion Treatment

Patients experiencing the following conditions may benefit from adhesion-focused physical therapy:

  • Chronic muscle tension
  • Post-surgical recovery
  • Sports-related injuries
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Reduced joint mobility
  • Persistent muscle pain

Adhesion Treatment at Bearden Medical Clinic

Our comprehensive approach includes:

  • Comprehensive initial assessment
  • Personalized treatment planning
  • Multi-technique intervention
  • Progressive rehabilitation strategies
  • Ongoing patient education

Treatment Benefits and Outcomes

Successful adhesion treatment can provide:

  • Reduced pain
  • Improved muscle flexibility
  • Enhanced range of motion
  • Accelerated healing
  • Prevention of future tissue restrictions

Potential Risks and Considerations

Patients should be aware that:

  • Individual results may vary
  • Some techniques might cause temporary discomfort
  • Consistent follow-up is crucial
  • Professional guidance is essential

Breaking up adhesions through physical therapy requires expertise, precision, and a patient-centered approach. At Bearden Medical Clinic, our skilled therapists are committed to helping you restore muscle function and improve overall quality of life.

Main Keyword

how to break up adhesion physical therapy

Reference Links

  1. https://www.kcrehabpt.com/post/6-physical-therapy-methods-that-can-be-effective-for-breaking-up-scar-tissue
  2. https://whatcompt.com/how-can-physical-therapists-help-you-to-break-up-scar-tissue/

Disclaimer: Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any medical treatment or rehabilitation program.

FAQ

How to break up muscle adhesions?

    • Riverside Sports Therapy
      https://www.riversidesportstherapy.com
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      Mar 13, 2025 — Select dense rubber or massage-specific tennis balls. Choose tools with varied surface textures. Ensure tools are clean and sanitized before use. Te…

    • YouTube  ·  AskDoctorJo
      https://www.youtube.com
      How to Release Shoulder & Neck Adhesions – Ask Doctor Jo
      Apr 9, 2017 — where your elbows. either kind of coming up at an angle or some people can go all the way up if you’re tight you can probably only go to about here.

    • Better Health Channel
      https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
      Adhesions | Better Health Channel
      Adhesions can be treated either with open or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, known as adhesiolysis.
    • Cleveland Clinic
      https://my.clevelandclinic.org
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      The only way to break up the scar tissue is through surgery to remove the adhesions. Your healthcare provider will talk you through the potential benefits and r…
    • YouTube  ·  Tone and Tighten
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      Feb 27, 2025 — away that’s the benefit that I hope that you get from this video hope it’s incredibly helpful for you let’s get into it the three things that we nee…

    • Alliance Physical Therapy Partners
      https://allianceptp.com
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      Soft tissue mobilization (STM) — STM is a type of manual therapy, which means therapists use their hands to do it. This therapy involves therapists applying the…

    • KC Rehab
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      Apr 9, 2025 — Ultrasound therapy — An ultrasound wand delivers high-frequency sound waves into scarred tissue to create heat and gentle stimulation. This helps res…

    • The Chiropractors at the Springfield Wellness Center
      https://www.silverichiro.com
      Shoulder Pain Treatment Springfield IL
      One technique is known as Active Release Technique, in which the doctor will shorten the specific muscle, apply tension to it, and then lengthen and stretch the…

    • Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
      https://health.clevelandclinic.org
      How To Get Rid of Muscle Knots
      Feb 26, 2024 — “Stretching overall is something that’s very helpful in these situations where you’re straining your muscles or being overactive and you’re experien…

    • Percussive Arts Society
      https://pas.org
      An Introduction to Active Isolated Stretching with Phil Warton
      Jul 2, 2022 — Simply put, muscle fibers come together at random when they’re overworked, overused, hyperextended, and there are adhesions of the muscles that limit…

Can physical therapy help with adhesions?Your PT will use their hands to make massage-like movements. This helps relieve adhesions or knots of tension between layers of tissue known as trigger points.

How do you dissolve adhesions?

    • Mobility-Doc
      https://mobility-doc.com
      How To Break Up Scar Tissue – Mobility-Doc
      Techniques for Breaking Up Scar Tissue * This technique involves applying deep, perpendicular strokes across the scar tissue to break up adhesions and promote …

    • Integrated Rehabilitation Services
      https://integrehab.com
      What Is Muscle Adhesion and How Does It Occur?
      Dec 21, 2021 — Treatment for Muscle Adhesion Treatments vary based on the muscle adhesion’s location. The goal is to deliver fluid and blood flow, lubricate the ar…

    • BenchMark Physical Therapy
      https://www.benchmarkpt.com
      Scar Tissue Treatment Options – BenchMark Physical Therapy
      Exercise & Stretching Mild-to-moderate exercise increases circulation and improves range of motion. Targeted exercise also helps prevent and reduce scar tissue …

    • Chiropractor in Hinsdale, IL
      https://adisihealth.com
      How Muscle Adhesions Form & How to Break Them Down – Adisi Health
      The good news? Adhesions are reversible! Soft tissue therapies can help restore normal movement, relieve pain, and improve muscle function. Best Treatments for …

    • pantherpt.com
      https://pantherpt.com
      Breaking Up Scar Tissue With Physical Therapy | Panther PT
      Myofascial release — Myofascial release is a hands-on technique. The physical therapist will knead around the scars, feeling for the tissue adhesions. They can …

    • Yale Medicine
      https://www.yalemedicine.org
      Lysis of Adhesions > Clinical Keywords > Yale Medicine
      Lysis of adhesions is a surgical procedure performed to remove or break down internal scar tissue (adhesions) that has formed between organs or tissues, often a…

Can physical therapy break up scar tissue?

    • Panther Physical Therapy
      https://pantherpt.com
      Breaking Up Scar Tissue With Physical Therapy | Panther PT
      Trigger point therapy — Trigger point therapy is a hands-on physical therapy technique where the physical therapist will place pressure on trigger points to hel…

    • BenchMark Physical Therapy
      https://www.benchmarkpt.com
      Scar Tissue Treatment Options – BenchMark Physical Therapy
    • Excel Sports & Physical Therapy
      https://excelsportspt.com
      Breaking Up Scar Tissue | Physical Therapy | Excel SPT
      Physical therapy can help break up the scar tissue, so you can recover from your injury or surgery with less pain. Scar tissue is tough and does not flex easily…

    • IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery
      https://www.impactphysicaltherapy.com
      Scar Tissue Treatment | IMPACT Physical Therapy
      There are many available treatments to help address the pain or mobility issues that can arise from scar tissue. Popular methods of scar tissue treatment can in…

    • foreverfitptw.com
      https://foreverfitptw.com
      How Can Physical Therapy Improve Scar Tissue? – Forever Fit
      Apr 6, 2025 — How your physical therapist can improve scar tissue buildup. … Manual therapy is a set of hands-on techniques where a licensed physical therapist u…

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