Authors: (including presenting author): :
Kwong MK(1), Cheuk HYC(1)
Affiliation: :
(1)Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Keyword 2: :
Kinesio tape
Keyword 4: :
Occupational Therapy
Keyword 6: :
functional performance
Introduction: :
Occupational therapy (OT) has a unique role in managing scar for patients recovering from burns, surgeries or traumatic injuries. Scar tissues often cause fascial restriction and hence limitation in functional performance. Conventional approaches, such as scar massage and pressure garment, have been proven beneficial in optimising functional performance, but often face challenges in poor treatment compliance and time-consuming fabrication for pressure garments, and in forceful pain-inducing manipulation for scar massage. Conventional approaches also show limited treatment effects on scars over chest and abdominal regions. An innovative pain-free approach integrating Kinesio tape (KT) and ScarWork techniques has been developed for promoting natural healing, pain relief, improving range of motion (ROM) and improving scar appearance.
Objectives: :
To study the treatment effects of the updated scar care approach on pain, ROM restriction and scar appearance
Methodology: :
Four patients, with scar and active complaint, hospitalized in 2025 had been reviewed. Apart from conventional functional training, ScarWork techniques, including Feather Light Sweeping and Matching Layers, were applied in sessions for 15 minutes. KT were then applied to reinforce the treatment effects. Patients with open wounds or poor skin conditions were excluded from KT application. Patients were assessed on pain level, ROM and scar appearance before and after treatment, and in the next session.
Result & Outcome: :
One patient had a scar of (1) total knee replacement 3 years ago restricting knee flexion. After 15-minute ScarWork, her knee flexion ROM increased from 95 to 105 degrees and pain reduced from 5 to 2 out of 10 in Visual Analog Scale. Hence, she required less assistance in toilet transfer. Other three patients had scars over chest or abdominal region, resulting from (2) liver transplant 20 years ago, (3) recent aortic dissection repair and (4) undocumented laparotomy surgery 10 years ago. After one treatment session, they experienced (2) increased trunk extension from upward reaching 182 to 188 centimeters with eased breathing, (3) increased shoulder internal rotation ROM from 45 to 70 degrees, and (4) reduced hyperpigmentation with reduced indentation respectively. This pain-free approach of scar management, incorporating ScarWork techniques and KT, shows potential effect in pain relief, improving ROM, and improving scar appearance. Compared to conventional approaches, its treatment effects have less influence from location or age of the scars. This approach could be adopted to enrich OT treatment toolbox for scar management to reduce session time and facilitate treatment outcomes.
