What is the definition of Viscera?
The internal organs of the body-specifically those within the chest (as the heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas, or intestines)*
What is Visceral Manipulation?
“Visceral Manipulation is a manual therapy consisting of gentle, specifically placed manual forces that encourage the normal mobility, tone, and inherent tissue motion of the viscera, their connective tissue, and other areas of the body where physiologic motion has been impaired.
Motion is a sign of life itself. Everything in the universe is in motion. Everything moves in space and time and humans are no exception to this rule. Our bodies need movement to be healthy. This same principle applies to every structure in our bodies including the viscera. For an organ to be healthy and have an optimal function, there needs to be motion. If an organ does not have optimal motion it can cause complaints such as neck, mid-back, and low back pain. Joints of the spine or extremities can become restricted and painful.
Tissues lose their normal motion when they become inflamed. The natural healing process involves local disruption of normal tissue fibers and their replacement with relatively inelastic granular tissue. It can be conceptualized as a localized dry-out of the affected tissues. Many factors can cause tissue inflammation including infections, direct trauma such as a fall or car accident, repetitious movement, poor diet, altered postures, scar tissue following surgery, environmental toxins and emotional stress.”**
The Goal of Visceral Manipulation
The goal of Visceral Manipulation is to restore the inherent motion of each organ and synchronize the organs’ motion to re-establish the brain-body connection. This restoration leads to improved bodily function and decreased pain. Decreased pain leads to improved functional activity tolerance such as household chores, childcare, general movement, and recreational activities. Decreased pain leads to improved quality of life.
Visceral Manipulation is utilized to help patients specifically with abdominal pain, as well as to help general population patients with chronic pain if the other treatments they have tried are failing.
This therapy requires advanced skills, which is why it is important to see a Visceral specialist.
Is Visceral Manipulation Therapy For You?
Visceral Manipulation can benefit a wide variety of patients.
Have you had a trauma such as a fall or accident that still causes you pain?
- Example: You may have had a skateboard accident or fell from a tree when you were young and still experience pain from it.
Do you perform repetitive motions at home or work?
- Example: A cashier at the grocery store is always turning to his or her left to place the groceries in a bag. This is not optimal motion.
Do you stay in one position for long periods? Has your posture been altered?
- Example: Many people work on a computer and develop bad posture habits, which can lead to a chronic issue.
Have you had surgery affecting your abdomen or an infection in your abdomen?
Restrictions of organ movement can cause pain and loss of motion-not only in the abdomen but in related areas such as the neck, mid-back, low back, SI, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and hand. Visceral manipulation can restore the inherent motion of each organ, leading to decreased pain and improved quality of life.
*Definition by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR