Understanding Scars: Advanced online theory

This self-paced advanced theory course is designed to provide advanced insights into the complexities of scars and the considerations associated with common injuries and surgical procedures that lead to scar tissue formation. This course serves as a vital building block for therapists who wish to support clients with scars, introducing various approaches and modalities for scar tissue treatment. While it does not focus on practical skills such as scar massage, the course equips participants with the ability to critically evaluate treatment possibilities and the underlying rationale of a comprehensive scar therapy program. Covering methodologies from early scar care to the management of historic scars, therapists will gain the essential knowledge needed to address a wide array of scar-related issues while deepening their understanding of the intricate relationship between scars and the fascial system. The flexible learning format allows you to begin with this course or any other that aligns with your interests, facilitating a gradual expansion of your expertise in scar treatments. The Scar Therapy Practitioner course is an ideal complement to this advanced theory training, enhancing practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge.

Programme Structure:

• Delivery: Online only, self-paced
• Timeframe: 12 months access with options to extend.

Key Elements of Understanding Scars: Advanced online theory training:

1. Patient Care: From patient history and intake assessment to treatment planning. Explore early treatment interventions and the emotional impact from PTSD to different types of pain that can become lasting problems for our clients.
2. Wound Healing and Scar Formation: Understand the phases of wound healing and how scars develop. What happens when wound healing goes wrong, and the differences between acute and chronic wound healing.
3. Skin and Fascia: Look in detail at the different layers of skin and fascial tissue and common injuries that are associated with this system of the body such as skin grafts and flaps, plastic surgery and fasciotomy.
4. Muscles Tendons and Ligaments: Discover the relationship between muscles and fascia, the most common muscle injuries that leave scar tissue and surgical repair techniques. Considerations for supporting recovery.
5. Skeletal System: Joint replacement and compound fractures will leave scar tissue and may develop adhesion formation with deep restrictions. Amputations also have specific considerations for therapists for you to explore.
6. Infection: Infection is a major contributing factor to scar tissue complications, revisit wound healing and learn about the relationship with a local or systemic infection, such as sepsis, may have on your clients.
7. Bonus Interviews: With 18 bonus interviews from global experts such as Peter Moortgat at Oscare in Belgium on scar research, Chronic Wound Healing and Innovative Technology with Tami Siewinski from USA and interviews exploring scar care products and medical devices for scar treatment.

By the end of the course: Therapists and exercise professionals will have in-depth knowledge of how different kinds of injury and surgery can impact the body and a variety of considerations when planning a treatment protocol enhancing their ability to develop a holistic recovery program after any injury or surgery. Professional Development certificate included.

Scar Therapy Practitioner Course

This is an in-depth, comprehensive training program aimed at enhancing your manual treatment skills for fascial restrictions and tightness linked to scar tissue. This course is ideal if you want to improve patient outcomes after both recent and long-standing injuries with a holistic approach. Covering scars caused by surgery, injury, or burns, this course is the cornerstone  of our comprehensive series of scar therapy courses. It serves as a key building block if you want to help recovery, focusing entirely on methodologies for scar tissue management, offering skills that span early scar care to the treatment of historic scars. Therapists will gain the knowledge needed to treat a wide variety of scar-related issues and deepen your understanding of the relationship between scars and our fascial system. Our flexible learning program allows you to start with any course that suits your needs and return to complete further courses, gradually expanding your expertise in scar treatments. Understanding Scars: Advanced online theory is an ideal compliment to this course.

Programme Structure:

• Delivery:In-person and online, with ongoing resources for 12 months.
• Practical Application: Treat members of the public with scar tissue in a training clinic session during your course. Complete training with a case study component to ensure supervised hands-on experience in applying these scar treatment techniques in real-world scenarios.

Key Elements of Scar Therapy Practitioner:

1. 1. Scar Massage: Learn specialised massage and fascial techniques tailored to soften and reduce dysfunctional scar tissue, improve skin and fascial mobility, reducing pain and sensitivity:
      – Techniques for surgical scars following a planned or emergency procedure.
      – Adaptions for burn scar massage.
      – Considerations for skin grafts, working over metalwork and keyhole procedures.
   2. Active and Passive Scar Stretching: Techniques to safely stretch scar tissue, helping to restore movement and flexibility in the affected area.
   3. Cupping (Negative Pressure Treatment – NPT): Using suction-based treatment to lift and loosen scar tissue and adhesions, promoting blood flow and healing.
   4. Inter-oral Techniques: Targeted methods to address facial scars, such as those resulting from injury, by working within the mouth to influence scars.
   5. Kinesiology Taping Taster: Try using kinesiology tape to alter the tensional forces across scars, an evidence-led approach to support scar remodeling.
   6. Scar Home-Care: Teach clients self-care methods, including using topical products and performing self-scar massage to continue treatment at home.

By the end of the course: Therapists will be equipped with a wide range of manual techniques to treat any kind of scar, enhancing their ability to deliver effective, personalised care after any injury or surgery. Professional Development certificate included. Re-certification training NOT required. Invitation to join our global ‘Find a scar therapist’ directory.

Oncology Scar Specialist Course

Our manual therapy training program specifically designed for therapists who want to specialise in treating scar tissue and fibrosis resulting from cancer surgeries and radiotherapy. Ideal for any therapist working with cancer clients such as Lymphoedema therapists, Oncology Physiotherapists, Oncology Massage Therapists, Osteopaths and Occupational Therapists working with cancer recovery. Our flexible learning program allows you to start with any course that suits your needs and return to complete further courses, gradually expanding your expertise in scar treatments. The Scar Therapy Practitioner training is recommended to compliment this course, but is not a pre-requisite. You may choose to start scar therapy training on this specialist course. This means that therapists can directly enrol on the Oncology Scar Specialist course without needing to complete the Scar Therapy Practitioner course first.

Programme Structure:

• Delivery: The course is available both in-person and online, with continuous access to learning resources for 12 months.
• Practical Application: Therapists will have the opportunity to treat individuals with scar tissue in a supervised training clinic session. The course also includes a case study component, ensuring they finish the course confident in scar treatment for clients after cancer surgery.

Key Elements of the Oncology Scar Specialist Course:

1. Scar Massage for Oncology Clients: Massage techniques aimed at softening and reducing dysfunctional scar tissue after cancer surgery. Techniques developed to improve skin and fascial mobility, while reducing pain and sensitivity caused by surgery and radiotherapy-induced fibrosis.
2. Active and Passive Scar Stretching: Safely stretch scar tissue and reduce mechanical load on the scar to help reduce pain, restore movement and add flexibility in the affected area while supporting scar remodelling.
3. Treatment for Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS or Cording): Learn active and passive methods to improve arm and shoulder mobility following breast cancer surgery, addressing one of the common post-surgical complications.
4. Tractional techniques: Implement tractional stretch techniques to alleviate hardening and stiffness in cording and for clients with chemical phlebitis, a complication of chemotherapy treatments.
5. Working with Common Oncology Complications:
   – Address fat necrosis following a flap procedure.
   – Manage capsular contracture, radiotherapy fibrosis, and develop adaptive treatments for clients with a stoma.
   – Considerations for clients with lymphoedema.
6. Scar Home-Care: Teach clients effective self-care, enabling them to continue the treatment at home and maintain progress.

By the end of the course: Therapists will be well-versed in a range of manual techniques to treat patients recovering from cancer surgery, enhancing their skills in addressing scarring, fibrosis, and common post-cancer surgery complications. This specialised knowledge will allow therapists to deliver improvements in their clients’ mobility, comfort, and overall well-being. Professional Development certificate included. Re-certification training NOT required. Invitation to join our global ‘Find a scar therapist’ directory.

C-Section Scar Specialist Course

This is a manual therapy training program designed for therapists specialising, or wanting to specialise in post-natal recovery. Learn effective hands-on skills to support recovery and treat common complications after abdominal birth, whether the C-section is recent or historic. The C-Section Scar Specialist Course is part of a flexible learning program. This course can be an ideal starting point for anyone new to scar therapy, with a singular focus to explore common complications and a simple structure for treatment application that allows maximum time to develop confidence and skills. While the Scar Therapy Practitioner and Understanding Scars training is recommended to complement this training, it is not a pre-requisite. This course is perfect for healthcare professionals working with post-natal clients, including Pelvic Physiotherapists, Post-natal Massage Therapists, Osteopaths etc.

Programme Structure:

• Delivery:In-person and online, with ongoing resources for 12 months.
• Practical Application: Observe a demonstration on a members of the public with C-Section scar in during your course and follow two example treatment series online, starting from early recovery, to see how to progress with a client as their scar matures. Complete training with a case study component to ensure supervised hands-on experience in applying these scar treatment techniques in real-world scenarios.

Key Elements of the C-Section Scar Specialist Course:

1. Scar Massage: Learn specialised massage techniques tailored to soften and reduce dysfunctional scar tissue, improve skin and fascial mobility, reducing pain and sensitivity after abdominal birth.
2. Abdominal Massage: Learn methods to release tension in the abdominal area support recovery
   – Address fascial tension in the abdominal area following pregnancy.
   – Support diastasis recti recovery with specialist techniques.
   – Reduce hip, lower back and glute pain.
3. Diastasis Recti Assessment: Skills to assess the separation of abdominal muscles often caused by pregnancy.
4. Diaphragm Techniques: Methods for working with the diaphragm muscle to improve core connection between the diaphragm and pelvic floor, improve deep breathing to promote relaxation and feelings of wellbeing.
5. Active and Passive Scar Stretching: Techniques to safely stretch scar tissue, with a focus on scar restrictions and internal adhesions that can cause tissue to bulk over the scar (commonly referred to as a C-Section ‘pouch’ or ‘overhang’).
6. Progression of scar treatment: Clear guidance on how to progress through a treatment series starting in early recovery and working with a client as their scar matures. Looking at key considerations in technique choice, pressure and prioritising your techniques to meet the individual requirements.

By the end of the course: Therapists will be able to provide a series of treatments for clients with different considerations after abdominal birth to support their post-natal recovery from a holistic perspective. Professional Development certificate included. Re-certification training NOT required. Invitation to join our global ‘Find a scar therapist’ directory.

Essential For Therapists and Exercise Professionals

Every year thousands of people undergo surgery or have serious accidents leaving them with scar tissue and adhesions. Our 5* rated online course in scar therapy advanced theory will deepen your understanding and provide in-depth knowledge and recommendations for working with scars. Learn the impact scars can have on our fascial system, how scar tissue may influence biotensegrity when the scar tissue – or related compensation patterns – create discomfort locally to the injury site, or elsewhere in the body.