Visceral Manipulation &
Gut Health
What is visceral manipulation?
Visceral Manipulation is a manual therapy consisting of gentle, specifically placed manual forces, designed to improve the mobility and function of our internal organs.
Visceral Manipulation has been developed and extensively researched by Jean Pierre Barral, a French Osteopath, over the last 40 years. The techniques encourage normal mobility and tone of the viscera (our internal organs), and their connective tissues such as ligaments and fascia. Improving structure helps to improve function of the organ, as well as the muscle-skeletal structures it’s connected to.
Why treat the visceria?
Gut health
Individuals may seek visceral osteopathic care to assist with common gut disorders such as reflux, bloating, constipation or abdominal pain. This is often undertaken in conjunction with naturopathic care.
Chronic musculo-skeletal complaints
Individuals who experience recurring chronic pain or injuries may find benefit in addressing the problem from a different perspective, particularly if they also suffer abdominal symptoms. Visceral techniques are always used in conjunction with typical osteopathic techniques.
Common links
Visceral manipulation techniques are based purely on anatomy, bio-mechanical connections and neural referral pathways.
Relieving tension in one structure also relieves tension in those its connected to.
A few examples
Reflux may be associated with neck pain because tension at the stomach creates downward fascial drag, straining the rear neck muscles.
Constipation and period pain may be associated with low back or sacroiliac joint pain because parts of the large intestine and the uterus, connect directly to the tailbone via ligaments, as well as via neural pathways.