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Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation

What is Visceral Manipulation?

Visceral Manipulation is a soft hands-on manual therapy practice. Underneath the pain or diagnosis is a compensatory pattern created in the body with the initial source of the dysfunction often being far from where the pain is felt. Because of this, the practitioner searches for this pattern and the source, and treats the related tissues. The treatment is a gentle compression, mobilization and elongation of the soft tissues. As the source of the problem is released, the symptoms will start to decrease as the body returns to greater health. This could take several days to occur after the Visceral Manipulation treatment.

How does it work?

Your body is made up of many interrelated components such as bones, muscles, nerves, a thin connective tissue called fascia, as well as the internal organs (viscera). Your organs are in perpetual motion. When you breathe, walk and stretch, your organs move in your chest and abdomen. For example, when you take a breath, your kidneys move one inch; and with deep inhalation, they move 4 inches. In a day, they move a little over ½ mile. That’s around 19,000 miles in a lifetime!

This movement of organs is transmitted through fascia to other structures of the body. When you are healthy, all the structures move with an interconnected fluidity. All of this movement is important as it influences activities throughout the body from the tiniest cellular pulsations to rhythmic contractions of the heart and blood flow. Optimum health relies on a harmonious relationship between the motions of the organs and other structures of the body.

There are many reasons for an organ to lose its mobility: physical traumas, surgeries, sedentary lifestyle, infections, pollution, bad diet, poor posture and pregnancy/delivery. When an organ is no longer freely mobile but is fixed to another structure, the body is forced to compensate. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension and the chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems throughout the body – musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urinary, respiratory and digestive, to name a few.

Imagine scar tissue around the lungs. Because of the pull of the adhesion, with every breath, the movement patterns of the nearby structures would be altered. This could shift rib motion creating pulls on the spine. These restrictions might then show up as mid-back and neck pain, as well as limited motion in the shoulder. This scenario highlights just one of hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction – magnified by thousands of repetitions each day. This also explains how pain can often be far removed from the actual cause.

What do I wear?

Most viceral manipulation work is preformed with direct contact with the skin of the abdomen. You can wear underwear or shorts and a bra (for female identifying people). Since you will be moving around, please chose clothing that allow you to move and maintain your modesty.

(from www.barralinstitute.com)

Visceral Manipulation can help with the following conditions:

  • Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
  • Chronic Pelvic Pain
  • Fibroids & Cysts
  • Endometriosis
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Dyspareunia
  • Infertility
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Bladder urgency/frequency
  • Bladder incontinence
  • Prostatitis
  • Urinary and sexual dysfunction associated with an enlarged prostate
  • Referred penile and testicular pain
  • Constipation and Bloating
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • GERD, Acid Reflux
  • Chronic Spinal Dysfunction
  • Sciatica
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint Pain
  • Post Operative Scar Tissue
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder