The use of massage to influence collagen synthesis in the hand: A phsioloical justification

Abstract

The hand is a structure of minute intricate function, which can become easily impaired by poor management of collagen synthesis post-injury. This paper presents an overview of the effects of massage on collagen synthesis. The paucity of research is discussed, and massage techniques are then justified on a physiological Level at each stage of healing. This paper recommends that the need for clinical trials is imperative. On a physiological basis the author considers that massage during acute inflammation is contraindicated. However, as fibroplasia and remodelling progress, increasingly aggressive massage techniques are indicated to prevent adhesion and contracture formation.