Benefits of C-section scar massage

By Sydney DeVoss, PT, DPT.

After a C-section, many women experience sensitivity in the form of stinging, burning, or
itching at their abdominal scars. Some women will experience this as they are returning
to exercise, due to the excess stress on the tissues, but many women will experience
this with just touching the scar or from friction from clothing. ¹ Additionally, many women
will experience a “shelf” in their lower abdomen from the scar adhesions.

In addition to these symptoms, the deep adhesions of the scar can cause visceral
organs to bind together resulting in chronic abdominal or low back pain, infertility,
recurrent intestinal obstruction, bowel obstruction, and painful menstruation. 3 Excess
scarring occurs in 41% of women post C-sections, and the rate of adhesions increases
with more C-sections performed. ²

These symptoms are not something you have to just live with- they are treatable
through scar tissue conservative management, with scar tissue mobilizations/massage
being one of the most effective ways! Soft tissue mobilization administered by a trained
professional around and on the scar itself has been proven to improve stiffness,
pliability, and pressure pain thresholds. ^1,2,3

Consult your doctor to ensure the scar is fully closed prior to seeking conservative scar
tissue treatment. A pelvic floor physical therapist will then be able to perform scar
mobilization and massage, offer tips for desensitization, and guide you through graded
core exercises to gradually build back abdominal strength and reduce discomfort.

1. Deflorin C, Hohenauer E, Stoop R, van Daele U, Clijsen R, Taeymans J. Physical
   Management of Scar Tissue: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The
   Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020;26(10):854-865.
   doi:10.1089/acm.2020.0109
2. Gilbert I, Gaudreault N, Gaboury I. Exploring the effects of standardized soft
   tissue mobilization on the viscoelastic properties, pressure pain thresholds, and
   tactile pressure thresholds of the Cesarean Section Scar. Journal of Integrative
   and Complementary Medicine. 2022;28(4):355-362. doi:10.1089/jicm.2021.0178
3. Lubczyńska A, Garncarczyk A, Wcisło-Dziadecka D. Effectiveness of various
   methods of manual scar therapy. Skin Res Technol. 2023; 29:e13272.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13272