Moderatore: Esteban Fortuny (Cile)
Relatori: Patricia Froes Meyer (Brasile), Jill Meirte (Belgio), Richard Liebano (Stati Uniti)
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“Scars across the lifespan: clinical challenges and the expanding role of physiotherapy”
• Identify and classify different types of scars (physiological and pathological) and their impact on function, pain and quality of life.
• Recognize the clinical relevance of scar management across conditions (burns, surgery, oncology, musculoskeletal and ageing-related wounds).
• Appraise the scope of physiotherapy practice in wound and scar management, highlighting opportunities for early intervention and prevention. -
“Mechanical forces and scar modulation: manual therapy as a foundation for accessible care” – Explain the role of mechanical forces in tissue healing and scar remodelling from a physiological and mechanobiological perspective. Demonstrate how manual therapy approaches can influence scar quality, mobility and function. Explore low-cost, scalable strategies for implementing mechanical-based interventions in diverse healthcare settings, including primary care.
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“Electrophysical agents in skin and scar management: evidence, indications and clinical integration”
• Summarize current evidence supporting the use of electrophysical agents (e.g., ultrasound, photobiomodulation, radiofrequency) in managing skin-related conditions, including wounds, inflammation and scar formation.
• Identify clinical indications and limitations of different electrophysical agents according to tissue condition, stage of healing and patient characteristics.
• Integrate electrophysical agents with manual and rehabilitation strategies to optimize outcomes in skin health, function and recovery.
Skin and scar-related dysfunctions are common yet under-recognised contributors to pain, movement restriction and long-term disability across healthcare systems. Arising from surgery, burns and chronic wounds, impaired healing and pathological scarring often lead to adhesions, functional limitations, increased healthcare utilisation and higher rehabilitation costs. Despite this impact, the role of physiotherapy in skin and scar management remains inconsistently integrated into education and clinical practice worldwide.
This area has gained increasing recognition within physiotherapy, focusing on the assessment and management of skin-related disorders and their functional consequences. This focused symposium will present an integrated, evidence-informed perspective that aims to redefine the role of physiotherapy in the prevention and management of skin and scar-related dysfunctions across the continuum of care, highlighting its contribution within interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
The session will be structured into three complementary presentations. The first will establish the global relevance of skin and scar conditions, including classification of physiological and pathological scars and their impact across diverse clinical populations, emphasising the broad scope of physiotherapy practice from early prevention to long-term rehabilitation. The second will advance understanding of the role of mechanical forces in tissue healing and scar remodelling from a mechanobiological perspective, demonstrating how manual therapy interventions can influence tissue behaviour and positioning these approaches as accessible, low-cost strategies across diverse and low-resource settings. The third will critically examine the use of electrophysical agents in the management of skin-related conditions, including ultrasound, photobiomodulation and radiofrequency, discussing current evidence, clinical indications and limitations, and their integration with manual approaches to optimise functional outcomes.
Interactive elements, including clinical case discussions and guided reflection, will enable participants to critically appraise and apply concepts within their own practice contexts. By integrating clinical practice, scientific evidence and global health priorities, this session aims to strengthen physiotherapy competencies, promote earlier and more effective intervention, reduce complications and support more efficient, cost-effective rehabilitation across healthcare systems worldwide, positioning these competencies as essential across all areas of physiotherapy practice.
- Mavros Y, Angelopoulos P, Tsiftsis D, et al. Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy on wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2022;37(3):1421–1434. doi:10.1007/s10103-021-03388-3
- Bleakley CM, Costello JT. Do thermal agents affect range of movement and mechanical properties in soft tissues? A systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94(1):149–163. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2012.07.023
- Monstrey S, Middelkoop E, Vranckx JJ, et al. Updated scar management practical guidelines: non-invasive and invasive measures. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014;67(8):1017–1025. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2014.04.011
- Finnerty CC, Jeschke MG, Branski LK, et al. Hypertrophic scarring: the greatest unmet challenge after burn injury. The Lancet. 2016;388(10052):1427–1436. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31406-4
- Ogawa R. Keloid and hypertrophic scars are the result of chronic inflammation in the reticular dermis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(3):606. doi:10.3390/ijms18030606
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, Price DD, et al. The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a comprehensive model. Physical Therapy. 2009;89(9):1015–1027. doi:10.2522/ptj.20090058
- Parry I, Sen S, Palmieri TL, et al. Nonsurgical scar management of burn injuries. J Burn Care Res. 2013;34(5):e259–e268. doi:10.1097/BCR.0b013e3182a2a58c
- World Health Organization. Rehabilitation 2030: A call for action. Geneva: WHO; 2017.
- World Physiotherapy. World Physiotherapy strategic plan 2022–2025. London: World Physiotherapy; 2022.
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