Scar tissue buildup after injury is not something to ignore. If left unattended, it’ll not only prevent you from making a full recovery, but it can actually lead to more damage down the road due to compensatory behaviors during movement.

“Scar tissue is the body’s natural response to damage. Cuts, burns, sores and surgical incisions alike — each of these injuries trigger our bodies to produce external scar tissue. But unlike your skin’s multidirectional collagen protein pattern, scar tissue collagen proteins grow in a single direction, making it much less elastic. This lack of elasticity can cause scars and the surrounding skin to feel tight, restricting your range of motion and often inducing pain.”

Check out the rest of coach Sadie’s blog here to learn more about the nitty gritty of scar tissue, why you need to care about it, ways to self treat it to improve your mobility over time and attention.