Fibrosis: What Is It and How Can Chiropractic Help?
Fibrosis refers to abnormal soft tissue healing, post injury. Also called scar tissue, it is the build-up of unorganized fibers during the reparative process of soft tissue injuries. This includes muscle, fascia (muscle covering), ligaments, tendons, and bursae (pads that cover tendons to reduce friction during movement). For example, a car accident whiplash usually results in soft tissue damage. The pain and stiffness that is felt several hours after a whiplash trauma is due to microtears and resultant swelling.
Muscle tissue is organized into longitudinal strands. The basic composition is actin and myosin fibers, specialized protein structures that have contractile properties (can shorten and elongate, much like “stretch pants” or a garter). When injured from hyperflexion/ hyperextension such as that which occurs from a fender bender car collision, these strands look like snapped threads when viewed under a microscope. Immediately, the inflammatory cascade follows: the release of histamines and heparin to make blood vessel walls more permeable, prostaglandins and arachidonic acid to mediate repair, and the arrival of macrophages to remove debris.
Next, blood vessels deliver fibroblasts to the injury site. Fibroblasts are cells that synthesize collagen strands, usually for repair purposes. That is why the resulting tissue created by fibroblasts is called reparative tissue. The reparative tissue does not typically line up nicely like the actin and myosin fibers that make up the muscle. These fibers are laid down haphazardly, like a patch. So when you try to engage the muscle, the range of motion is usually reduced due to the effect of the reparative scar tissue, which is not as contractile as healthy muscle tissue.
Long-standing fibrosis, besides causing stiffness/ loss of flexibility can sometimes be felt through the skin. People in heavy labor occupations often have palpable nodules in the muscles, which feel like tiny pebbles under the skin. These are scar tissue adhesions, thickening over the years. They can sometimes form trigger points– very tender spots along the back. Trigger points are formed when nerve endings grow around the scar tissue (the nerves cannot penetrate the tissue, so they bunch up).
Chiropractic can help reduce the effects of fibrosis. If you suffer an injury, like a sports injury or car accident, make sure to visit your local San Francisco chiropractor. The first 3-4 days post injury are the most crucial, as your body is busy laying down scar tissue. Chiropractic adjustments and joint mobilization techniques, done during the healing stage will encourage the scar tissue fibers to line up along the same axix as the normal muscle tissue, thereby limiting the amount of loss of range of motion. Modalities like ice, heat, and muscle stim can reduce pain and influence vascular flow to the injury site. Lymphatic drainage massage is done early to help move out swelling and inflammatory byproducts from the area. Myofascial release, or active release technique is done later to further model scar tissue so that it does not form adhesions or bunch up into trigger points.
Dr. Dan
Tags: chiropractic, fibrosis, san francisco chiropractor. lymphatic drainage, scar tissue
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November 21, 2009 at 6:39 pm
so where is fibrosis located can it be anywhere in the body, does it travel like spinal nerves do, or is it localized, how do you get fibrosis
November 30, 2009 at 5:48 am
It can be anywhere where there has been soft tissue injury, whether microtrauma or macrotrauma.