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Essay on Regeneration Process of Tissues

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Regeneration Process of Tissues

When an injury is sustained, the body sets into motion various processes, which are needed to repair the damaged tissue. A Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer can aid the natural repair processes of tissue by using various therapeutic modalities within an appropriate time shortly after an injury. This paper will discuss the physiological effects of therapeutic modalities and their relation to the regeneration process of tissues.

A. The injury process

The body's reaction to injury may be divided into two distinct parts. The primary response to injury is the tissue destruction directly associated with the traumatic force. Secondary damage occurs from cell death caused by a blockage of the oxygen …show more content…

Hence, the application of a modality at an improper point in its recovery phase may hinder, if not actually set back, the healing process (Starkey, 30).

Therapeutic modalities are used to control and limit the negative effects of inflammation by providing the optimum environment for healing to occur. Each modality used in the treatment of an injury should be judged for the effect it will have on the injury response process in the current stage of healing (Starkey, 31). The course of healing is described in three phases: (1) the acute inflammatory response, (2) the proliferation phase, and (3) the remodeling (maturation) phase
(Starkey, 12).

The acute inflammatory response involves the delivery of phagocytes, specifically fibroblasts, to the area and the formation of granulation tissue in an attempt to isolate and localize the trauma. During this time, histamine released from the traumatized cells increases capillary permeability, resulting in swelling as the proteins follow water out into the tissues (Starkey, 13).

During the proliferation phase, in which soft tissue repair occurs, the number and size of fibroblasts increase, causing ground substance and collagen to collect in the traumatized area in preparation to rebuild the damaged tissues. The injury process is completed during the maturation phase, when collagen and fibroblasts align themselves and attempt to adapt to the original tissue orientation and

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