6 Ways to Remove or Treat Scar Tissue on Your Foot With Rehab

Scar tissue can occur on the outside or inside of your foot, especially when your injury disrupts the skin. Scar tissue is also common after surgery. This scar tissue can inhibit your foot's movement and strength.

Whether you see a physical therapist or perform rehab at home, interventions help manage scar tissue as you heal and regain strength and flexibility. Your rehabilitation program will focus on your supporting muscles and tendons as your scar forms and prevention of further injury.

Read more: Healing Stages of Scars

Manage Your Swelling

Intermittently rest your foot regularly to avoid overexertion during daily activity. Many physical therapists provide ice or heat treatments to reduce swelling and speed healing to your scar tissue. This is done throughout your rehabilitation.

You may also be instructed to prop your foot at home and apply ice or heat to aid in the healing process. In between sessions, you might be instructed to keep your foot wrapped with an elastic bandage to help flatten your scar and reduce swelling.

Perform Scar Massage

Physical Therapy Exercises for a Hyperextended Toe

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Massage your foot at the injury site for five to 10 minutes per day.

Move Your Foot

Stretch your ankle, foot and toes two to three times daily to increase flexibility. As scar tissue forms, your foot's natural movement is inhibited as your muscles become stiff. This is a normal part of the healing process. Stretching your foot muscles will warm the affected area and help prevent stiffening from occurring.

Do Ankle Circles

How to Increase Flexibility in My Big Toes

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Rotate each joint in your foot daily to increase range of motion as part of a program for breaking down scar tissue in your foot. Range of motion is important to restoring full movement and healing potential to scar tissue.

By rolling your ankle or flexing your foot several times a day, you can increase natural movement and help increase blood circulation to scar tissue after surgery. Focus on the movements that stretch your scar. For example, if you have scar tissue on the top of your foot, spend more time pointing your toes down toward the ground.

Read more: How to Get Rid of Scars on Toes

Return to Function

Increase your exercise routines gradually. Returning to full activity can worsen scar tissue and cause further injury. Begin exercising a few minutes each day, gradually adding one to two minutes to your exercise time each time. This allows scar tissue to heal and muscle strength to return naturally.

Preventing Excess Scar Tissue

According to a 2017 study published by Burns & Trauma, natural materials such as:

• honey
  
• curcumin
  
• extract from pine bark
  
• relaxin
  
• crocodile oil have all been shown to decrease scar formation after injury