Effect of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Hand Post Surgical Scars in Primary Flexor Tendons Repair in Zone v

The hand plays an important role in independent daily living and in communication with the environment. As the most mobile part of the upper extremity, the hand is actively used in everyday life and professional fields. The flexor tendons of the hand are critical for normal hand function. Injury to these tendons can result in absent finger and wrist flexion, and a subsequent loss of overall hand function. The surgical techniques used to repair these tendons have improved in the past few decades, as have the postoperative rehabilitation protocols. In spite of these advances, flexor tendon repairs continue to be plagued by postoperative scar formation, which limits tendon gliding and prevents a full functional recovery. Many different treatment methods can reduce the trauma and surgical scars. Manual scar treatment is one of these methods. Manual scar therapy to be effective requires applying physiological stimuli adequately to the phase of wound healing. Scar tissue therapy is a treatment for reducing pain and functional limitations, improving pliability, reducing hyper-pigmentation, pruritus, fascial adhesions, to reduce scar thickness and smooth surface area. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a soft-tissue treatment technique where an instrument is used to provide a mobilizing stimulus to positively affect scar tissue and myofascial adhesion.