SSTM

Question 1

What are the 3 types of soft tissue healing

Answer 1

Resolution
Repair
Regeneration

Question 2

What are the main causes of soft tissue damage (3)

Answer 2

Overuse
Underuse
Misuse

Question 3

What would you expect from a muscle or ligament injury

Answer 3

Immediate pain at time of injury
Swelling and inflammation
Aggs: using it, loading, contraction
Eases: rest but comes back on movement

Question 4

What signs would indicate a tendon issue

Answer 4

Gradual onset after strenuous activity

Soreness

Question 5

How would you treat soft tissue damage (4)

Answer 5

Specific Soft tissue mobilisations
deep transverse frictions
Exercise
Trigger point releases

Question 6

What are the 3 types of SSTM

Answer 6

Accessory SSTM- a movement that can’t be produced by the muscle action normally e.g med to lat pressure on biceps
Physiological SSTM- mobilisation through physiological movement e.g. extend elbow to stretch biceps
Combined SSTM- both of above

Question 7

What are the 3 types of accessory SSTM

Answer 7

Direct pressure (in a vertical direction) 
Transverse pressure (going across the muscle horizontally) 
Bowing

Question 8

Benefits of SSTM (3)

Answer 8

Pain relief via pain gate
Stimulate cells to help remodelling
Increased blood flow to area for healing

Question 9

Describe the action of a deep transverse friction

Answer 9

Push deep into muscle and then rub horizontally for 5-8 mins to numb the area and then do 10 deep and forceful frictions

Question 10

Benefits of deep transverse friction (3)

Answer 10

Breaks down adhesions
Increased blood flow
Stimulation of cells for healing

Question 11

Contraindications for SSTM and DTF (7)

Answer 11

Open wound 
Undiagnosed cancers
Bursitis 
Clotting disorders 
DVT 
Neural tissue in area 
Growth plates of bones

Question 12

What is the most important stage of soft tissue healing for optimal loading?

Answer 12

Remodelling phase
- cross links form between collagen fibres
Collagen 1 produced by fibroblasts matures into collagen type 3

Question 13

What are the phases of connective tissue repair (4)

Answer 13

Bleeding phase 6-8 hrs
Inflammatory phase- 2-3 weeks
Proliferation phase- begins 24 hours after event and lasts months
Remodelling phase - lasts weeks - months

Question 14

General overview of soft tissue healing (4)

Answer 14

• bleeding occurs depending on how vascular structure is
• changes to blood flow: odema formation due to leukocyte emigration
• granulation tissue forms due to WBC and plasma proteins leaking into damaged tissue
• fibroblasts produce type 1 collagen and matures into type 3 collagen