Simply put, an adhesion is an abnormal deposit of connective tissue between gliding surfaces. No one person is immune to this condition, but athletes are more prone to adhesion’s due to the excessive mechanical stress of repetitive strain, and the performance and practice activity’s they engage in, such as running, bicycling, throwing, jumping, etc.

There are three types of connective tissue fibers: reticulin, elastin and collagen. I want to focus on the collagen fibers for a couple of reasons. First, they makeup approximately 80% of tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and a large percentage of cartilage and bone, and second, because (generally) these tissues will often be injured as a result of the demands that occur in athletic performances.

Think of collagen fibers as a rope, and that these fibers need to have the ability to slide relative to each other. Normal gliding of these (parallel) collagen fibers is maintained by movement and is lubricated from ground substance; this is the lubricant and spacer between collagen fibers that prevents fibers from adhering to one another. When movement of these fibers are interrupted by stresses, impact injuries or repetitive uses, an abnormal torsion or twist occurs in the area, which then decreases the collagen production and reduces lubrication to the area.

The lubrication process becomes stagnated, reducing the tissues ability to repair itself, then promoting decreased cellular activity, decreased nutrition, and the accumulation of waste products. Simultaneously, as random orientation of collagen fibers (for repair) are laid down, the fibers are packed closer together forming the adhesion (scar tissue). These adhesions then prevent the normal broadening of the muscle (collagen) fibers that occurs during muscle contraction.

Summarizing, the inter-connective relationships to the body are disrupted. The athlete experiences reduced range of motion, increased pain and potential joint dysfunction. There are more dysfunctions for sure, but what piggy backs with all of this are compensation patterns, reduced lap times, disconnects in cadence, etc.

For athletes and adhesions, the remedy is a massage therapist that understands these concepts, and can work well (together) with the athlete and his/her team of health professionals.