Scars & Tattoos
Although not thought of as a surgical scar, tattoos and piercings all break the skin and can cause all sorts of movement restrictions. When the skin barrier is broken, the nervous system report this back to the brain. Our brains contain “maps” which in affect, are sensory maps of the whole body.
The clarity of these maps are of vital importance, as they allow you to move safely with prediction, coupled with real time error detection and correction. This is why the brain needs high quality, high performing maps from all sensory systems. Any deficit or poor mapping will induce threat responses that can have short term and long term detrimental effects on health and performance, which often leading to injury.
Scars
Every scar reports to your brain the traumatic event that created it. These scars may be due to emergency operations, sports repair surgery, caeserean- section, non-emergency surgeries, tattoos, and body piercing. What you may not realise is that all surgeries can leave emotional, psychological, and physiological trauma on the body. Even under general anaesthetic, the brain understands what is happening to you at the site of the surgical repair, which is due to your nervous system reporting the trauma.
A client reported chronic low back pain, referring into groin area and down the back of thigh. Two hip replacements of the same hip, first twenty years ago and second two years ago. Treatment to both the operation scars along with balance training had my client pain free in a matter of weeks. This was all neurological pain.
Tattoos & piercings
Although not thought of as a surgical scar, tattoos and piercings all break the skin and can cause pain and all sorts of movement restrictions.
A client reported weak left Glutes(butt muscles) lack of strength & stability through left leg leading to injury & poor performance. Belly button piercing years earlier & a few tattoos. All areas treated, immediate return of strength to Glutes. Advised to strengthen left side & get rid of piercing!
