Active scars are a model of soft tissue lesions. Soft tissues surround everywhere the locomotor systém.They have to shift and stretch in harmony with joints and muscles. Active scars interfere with this type of movement thus disturbing the function of the entire motor system. Clinical diagnosis is based on increased resistance of the surface to stretch, by a thickened fold of deep connective tissue, by impaired mobility against deep tissues in particular bone and resistance palpated in the abdominal cavity, which gives under slight pressure. 51 cases are presented which have benn sufficiently followed up, mainly scars after surgery. The patients suffered from various types of what is called myofascial pain.Treatment consisted mainly of soft tissue manipulation making use of the barrier phenomenon. As lesions of function are multifactorial as a rule, active scares, too, are frequently only one of many factors. Therefore its relevance is dicisive. They proved to be highly relevant in 36 cases, only partly relevant in 13 and entirely irrelevant in 3 cases. Treatment of active scars is highly effective in a great number of patients, in particular after surgery. If undiagosed and untreated they are an important cause of therapeutic falure and recurrence. It also widens the scope of manipulative therapy.

        Key words: active scars, soft tissue lesions, the barrier phenomenon, relevance, impaired function of the motor system