{"id":22125,"date":"2025-06-24T02:16:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/?p=22125"},"modified":"2025-06-24T02:17:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T09:17:23","slug":"massage-gun-for-scar-tissue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/massage-gun-for-scar-tissue\/","title":{"rendered":"Massage Gun for Scar Tissue – What a PT Wants You\u00a0to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scar tissue can have a significant effect on the health of your joints, athletic performance, and everyday life. If you\u2019ve had success using your massage gun for other areas of health and wellness, you might be wondering if you can use a massage gun for scar tissue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on our research and experience, the answer is a little bit complicated. While massage guns can\u2019t be used to break up scar tissue directly, they can help manage problems caused by scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re a competitive athlete or recovering from an injury, knowing how often to massage scar tissue effectively can help keep you healthy for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn more about all of the essential details to get the most out of using your vibrating massager for scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"vibrating
Can a massage gun break up scar tissue? Discover below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What is Scar Tissue Made of?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When we talk about scar tissue, we\u2019re referring to fibrous tissue that forms when normal tissue is destroyed by disease, injury, or surgery\u200b1\u200b<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever had a cut that left a mark on your skin afterwards, then you\u2019re familiar with one of the most common examples of scar tissue for most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"massage<\/a>
Scar from elbow surgery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to know that your body makes scar tissue when recovering from many different types of injury as part of a normal healing process, including injuries around your muscles and joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, I have rarely worked with an adult patient who did not have scar tissue around at least one joint or muscle on their body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While scar tissue can be a good thing for your body, I\u2019ve found that if there\u2019s too much of it, or if it\u2019s around a sensitive area, it can start to cause problems with joints and muscles. For this reason, many of my patients ask about methods to break down or otherwise eliminate problematic scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But can you use a massage gun to break up scar tissue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Can A Massage Gun Help with Scar Tissue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although there are many products and methods advertised for \u201cbreaking up\u201d scar tissue, this is a very difficult goal to achieve without the use of surgery. However, there are some treatments, like massage for scar tissue after surgery, that can help<\/strong> you better manage and even reduce scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Massage technique for scar tissue is an approach that has worked for many of my patients because it increases blood flow to the joints and muscles being worked on, which can help your body naturally reduce scar tissue around those areas\u200b2\u200b<\/sup><\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, massage can help you feel better (read about all the benefits<\/a>), which can make you more likely to participate in exercise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise is vital for helping newer scar tissue \u201cstraighten out\u201d and limiting the formation of new scar tissue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"best<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Massage Gun on Scar Tissue: The Do\u2019s and Don’ts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How does massage break down scar tissue?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since a vibrating massager for scar tissue mimics the effects of massage in a few different ways\u200b3,4\u200b<\/sup><\/span>, we can anticipate some similar benefits with regular use. Although this is difficult to measure, many of my patients report improvements in their scar tissue after undergoing consistent self-massage treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always find it necessary to reiterate to my patients that no self-massage technique is going to truly \u201cbreak up\u201d scar tissue safely, which is true for both scar tissue around muscles and joints or scars on your skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it can be better managed by safely using the proper self-massage technique for scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do massage guns break up scar tissue? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you can\u2019t technically be breaking up scar tissue with massage gun, you can still get good benefits from using your massage gun properly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n

Using Your Massage Gun For Scar Tissue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to using your massage gun for scar tissue, there are a few things that I would recommend keeping in mind to get the best results while staying safe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

STEP 1<\/mark><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, be mindful of where you are massaging<\/strong>. For a massage gun scar tissue on your skin, avoid massaging directly over the scar and instead focus on the surrounding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For scar tissue underneath the skin, it\u2019s okay to massage directly over the area; you\u2019ll also want to address the surrounding tissues for best results. This would be a massage therapy for internal scar tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

STEP 2<\/mark><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, pick the adequate attachment<\/strong>. Depending on the location of your scar tissue, I recommend switching out your attachment based on the sensitivity of the scar tissue or the surrounding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, scar tissue deep in your hamstring might benefit from a rigid ball attachment, while scar tissue on the skin of your wrist might do better with a soft or squishy attachment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"massage<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"theragun<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"percussive<\/a><\/figure>\n
This is the difference between a firm (EVA foam) and a soft ball (air cushion, hollow inside) head attachment for massage. Percussive therapy scar tissue: choose the appropriate one for the area you will be treating.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

STEP 3<\/mark><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, keep the head moving<\/strong>. Remember, one of the primary goals of self-massage is to improve circulation and gently stimulate the movement of your tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To achieve this, I always advise patients to work in small circles around the area, or at the very least, alternate between directions and move slowly throughout the massage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

STEP 4<\/mark><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, keep it pain-free<\/strong>. Whether my patients are addressing scar tissue above or below their skin, I always recommend stopping and adjusting the handheld massager for scar tissue settings if pain is present.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n

Always remember, don\u2019t try to use your massage gun to break up scar tissue with brute force, as this will only result in pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my experience, many patients see better results with relatively painless massage therapy for internal scar tissue that\u2019s performed consistently over time. Slow and steady wins the race!<\/p>\nDr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS<\/a>, our Expert Board Member<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a sense of how a massage gun can help with scar tissue, and how to use it, let\u2019s talk about the best scar tissue massage tool options on the market today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Best Massage Gun for Scar Tissue – Choosing The Right Device<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because scar tissue can be present at deeper levels (in joints and muscles) or shallower levels (on the skin), we recommend devices that are versatile<\/strong> enough to handle either scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B<\/span>ased on our experience testing massage guns for various purposes, most people will benefit from devices from reputable companies such as Ekrin and Theragun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Ekrin: Massage Gun Scar tissue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to massage guns, very few devices compare to those made by Ekrin Athletics. That\u2019s because they consistently deliver versatile, quality devices that can meet the needs of our readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"scar<\/a>
All four Ekrin massage guns. From left to right: the mini Bantam, 365, B37, and the top-of-the-line Kestrel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In our experience, a vibrating massager for scar tissue (low-med amplitude, faster revving) tends<\/strong> to be slightly more effective for a number of uses than high-amplitude guns<\/a> (punchy ones).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We think this is especially important to consider if you\u2019re dealing with deep scar tissue because while a deeper punch might sound better at first, you can still get good results by applying more pressure with a device that won\u2019t stall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those dealing with scar tissue on their skin, a more vibrational device will be a better option because they feel less aggressive and abrasive – versatility at its best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve personally tested many devices, and our top recommendations are the Ekrin 365<\/a> or B37<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our opinion, Ekrin 365 provides just enough force for deep scar tissue massage while also being gentle enough for use around scar tissue on the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"deep<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ekrin<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"handheld<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"scar<\/a><\/figure>\n
Scar tissue gun: Ekrin 365 is a highly versatile and excellently crafted massager.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, we believe that more demanding users will find the B37 to be a more effective scar tissue gun for reaching deeper scar tissue on larger body areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"scar<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"scar<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"best<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"percussion<\/a><\/figure>\n
The B37 is an outstanding massager, our top recommendation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Put simply, we think that Ekrin makes the best massage gun for scar tissue. To learn more about both of these great devices from Ekrin, check out our comprehensive hands-on reviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n