Ep 476 - Marfan Syndrome and Scar Tissue—from a scar tissue expert: "I Have a Client Who . . ." Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

A client with Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder with dysfunctional collagen, has had multiple surgeries for a traumatic accident and their scar tissue is restricting their ease of movement. Their massage therapist is concerned about how best to help them regain function.

When "I Have a Client Who . . ." host Ruth Werner has questions about scar tissue, she goes to the Scar Tissue Diva, Cathy Ryan. In this episode, Werner and Ryan discuss the difference between "challenging tissue" and working with the fluid environment to improve function.

Resources: 

 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

Cathy Ryan, Registered Massage Therapist, at [email protected]

Live and online scar tissue classes through Healwell: https://online.healwell.org/pages/scars-fascia-lymph-landing

ABMP CE Library: Scar Tissue Management, with Cathy Ryan and Nancy Keeney Smith: https://www.abmp.com/learn/course/scar-tissue-management-part-1-introduction

A short list of Stecco fascial research papers:

Adstrum, S. et al. (2017) 'Defining the fascial system', Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 21(1), pp. 173-177. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.11.003.

Stecco, A. et al. (2023) 'From Muscle to the Myofascial Unit: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(5), p. 4527. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054527.

Stecco, C. and Schleip, R. (2016) 'A fascia and the fascial system', Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 20(1), pp. 139-140. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2015.11.012.

Suarez-Rodriguez, V. et al. (2022) 'Fascial Innervation: A Systematic Review of the Literature', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(10), p. 5674. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105674.

An image of a thumb being stretched.

Episode Hosts

Meet our hosts

  • Ruth Werner Photo

    Ruth Werner

    Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (available at booksofdiscovery.com), now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at ruthwerner.com or [email protected].