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 What is Visceral Manipulation?
Written by Jeanne
Did you know that many times, common complaints such as poor digestion, fatigue, constipation, acid reflux, hiatal hernia, metabolic disorders, food sensitivities, poor circulation, varicose veins, low back pain, neck/shoulder pain, sciatica, emotional stress, or poor sleep originate in the viscera?
Viscera is a general term to describe the various organ systems located within our chest, abdominal and pelvic cavities. These include organs such as our lungs, spleen, digestive tract, kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs.
Ideally, our organs each have intrinsic and extrinsic movements that occur continuously, in response to our movements and metabolic activities. For example, our organs need to slide and glide over each other as we move throughout our day, just like our joints need to move and slide as we walk. Another example is the wave-like contractions which occur throughout our digestive tract, to move food through the digestive system for processing and absorption of nutrients. Additionally, each of our organs has an intrinsic, subtle oscillation pattern, migrating toward and away from our middle. Optimally, all of these motions occur effortlessly and continuously.
Various traumas, illnesses and medical procedures, as well as postural and repetitive use habits, however, can create adhesions, scar tissue and “sticking points” in our tissues, which can inhibit these intrinsic and extrinsic motions. In addition to compromising organ function, these lesions can also refer pain patterns to our muscular and skeletal framework. As an example, sciatic symptoms can be related to adhesions in the ligaments of the colon. Similarly, adhesions around the liver can refer as pain in the neck and/or right shoulder. In fact, it has been estimated that 9 times out of 10, a musculoskeletal restriction (eg: a frozen shoulder) has a visceral involvement*. Either the visceral restriction could be the underlying cause for the musculoskeletal restriction, or the postural changes resulting form the musculoskeletal restriction could create visceral restrictions.
Visceral Manipulation is a manual therapy utilizing gentle, specifically placed techniques to help release adhesions and encourage normal intrinsic and extrinsic motions within the viscera and surrounding connective tissues. Visceral manipulation can facilitate healing related to digestive, reproductive, respiratory and musculoskeletal problems. Additionally, Visceral Manipulation will enhance the effectiveness of other bodywork modalities, such as lymphatic drainage massage and cranial-sacral therapy. To learn more about Visceral Manipulation, please contact Jeanne Ratchford, CMT, at our center, (303) 922-7946
* Per Dr. Jean-Pierre Barral’s clinical findings over 35 years
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