The visceral system relies on the interconnected synchronicity between the motions of all the organs and structures of the body. At optimal health, this harmonious relationship remains stable despite the body's endless varieties of motion. But when one organ cannot move in harmony with its viscera due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against the body's other organs and muscular, membranous, fascial and osseous structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. And that chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for postural distortion, neuromuscular dysfunction, and disease processes.
HOW DOES IT HELP?
Visceral Manipulation is used to locate and solve problems throughout the body. It encourages the body’s own natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of organs, dissipate the negative effects of stress, enhance mobility of the musculoskeletal system through the connective tissue attachments, and influence general metabolism. If various tissues are restricted or organs are unable to move properly because of an injury, illness, accident, etc., then they do not function optimally.
For instance, the force of a seatbelt during a collision can cause restrictions of the tissues around a person’s liver. In this case, the liver is not able to move normally, and the function of the liver can decrease. Also, the liver attachments—diaphragm, rib cage, spine, stomach, kidneys, etc.—are adversely affected. The person might begin to feel pain and stiffness in their neck, right shoulder, ribcage, spine, as well as experience low energy and poor digestion. By addressing the tissue restrictions around the liver with VM, which is the source of the cascade of symptoms, the person will begin to function optimally again.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
VM is a soft hands-on manual therapy. 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.
