Traumatic Scar Tissue Management : Massage Therapy Principles, Practice and Protocols

The management of scar tissue is a huge and growing problem for massage and other manual therapists. Research has showed that appropriate massage treatment can have significant results both physically and psychologically.

Existing books have chapters on the problem but there is no practical manual available on the subject at the present time which tells the therapist what to do (and what not to do). This book fills that gap, explaining the physiologic and pathophysiologic background, and providing practical guidance about how to help patients.

Nancy Keeney Smith is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist, and a Florida and NCTMB Provider of Scar Management Workshops. Nancy's Working with Matured Scar Tissue workshop has been taught internationally to massage school students, LMT's, PT's and OT's. Nancy is a member of the Associate Research Team at the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, Florida, founder and Director of The Happy Plus Foundation, 2nd Vice-President of the AMTA Florida Chapter, member of the American Burn Association, the National Lymphedema Association and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Her private practice in Gainesville, Florida includes treatment of burn survivors, clients battling cancer, mastectomy scar management, as well as others with traumatic scarring. Nancy consults with physical and occupational therapists on burn massage techniques and on developing a long term protocol for scar management after care programs.

Catherine Ryan is a Canadian trained Registered Massage Therapist with over 20 years of clinical and Massage Therapy (MT) educator experience. Embracing a firm commitment to life-long learning, her extensive postgraduate roster includes training in various approaches to myofascial therapy and scar management. Cathy is the Managing Editor and a course provider at TouchU.ca, an online portal for MT continuing education. Her online courses and hands-on workshops are accredited with various professional regulatory bodies and associations across Canada and with NCBTMB in the USA. As a regularly featured writer for Massage Therapy Canada and RMT Matters Canada magazines - she may be best recognized for her fascia enthusiasm and voracious interest in all things massage therapy. A proponent of professional regulation, over her career she has worked with Canadian MT regulatory organizations - previously as a subject matter expert for the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and was recently elected as Chair of the Board of Directors of the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. As a clinician, educator and writer she upholds a strong interest in research translation and evidence informed practices and is committed to the delivery of safe, effective and ethical care. Where MT is concerned, Cathy is never at a loss for words and is driven by a passion for the profession - co-authoring a book seemed a logical next step in her professional explorations!