Scar Tissue Massage (in conjunction with NeuroKinetic Therapy)

Imagine someone who had rotator cuff surgery - 10 years ago. The scars looks fine on the surface, but this individual has been experiencing neck pain and shoulder weakness for years - even post rehab! No one has ever addressed the scar—until now.

Scar tissue is more than skin deep. Even after it heals, a scar can send strong, continuous signals to the brain. In some cases, that scar becomes neurologically dominant, interfering with how muscles around it function. That’s because the nervous system may interpret the scar as an area that needs protection—especially if the original injury or surgery was traumatic, painful, or emotionally charged.

When this happens, the brain may unconsciously reduce function in surrounding muscles or tissues to avoid "disturbing" the scar. Over time, this leads to compensations—other muscles start overworking to pick up the slack, resulting in tightness, pain, or dysfunctional movement.

This is where scar tissue massage—used alongside Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT)—can be transformative.

With NKT, we assess movement patterns to identify whether a scar is disrupting healthy muscle recruitment. Gentle, focused scar work can reduce the excess sensory input from the scar, helping to "downregulate" its influence. This allows underperforming muscles to re-engage properly and the nervous system to reset its movement map.

Scars that carry emotional weight—like those from childbirth, accidents, or surgeries—can also tie into the limbic system, strengthening the brain’s protective hold. Addressing these scars physically, with sensitivity and awareness, can often lead to not just physical release, but nervous system regulation and emotional unwinding as well.

Benefits of Scar Tissue Massage + NKT

• Reintegrates underactive muscles

• Decreases pain and muscular compensation

• Improves movement patterns and posture

• Supports emotional and nervous system balance

• Enhances long-term recovery from surgery or injury

Contraindications

Scar work is not appropriate on:

• Fresh or recently healed scars (typically less than 6–8 weeks post-injury/surgery)

• Infected or inflamed areas

• Scars that are painful to touch or have keloid overgrowth

• Areas with active cancer, open wounds, or known blood clots

Scar tissue work is always done gently, with precision and respect. It’s not about “breaking up” the scar—it’s about helping the body let go of outdated patterns and restore more easeful, efficient movement.