What is Visceral Manipulation?
‘Viscera’ relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines. Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a gentle manual therapy that aids your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. VM does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction, but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem. The VM therapist feels for the altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body and then applies VM techniques. VM therapy re-establishes the body’s ability to adapt and restore itself to health.
What Does It Feel Like?
VM is a soft, hands-on manual therapy. Underneath the pain or diagnoses 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 the 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.
How Did Visceral Manipulation Begin?
Jean-Pierre Barral is an Osteopath and Registered Physical Therapist from France. He first became interested in the movement of the body (biomechanics) while working at the Lung and Disease Hospital in Grenoble, France with Dr. Arnaud, a recognized specialist in lung diseases and a master of cadaver dissection. Barral was able to follow patterns of stress in the tissues of cadavers as he studied biomechanics in living subjects. This introduced him to the visceral system, its potential to promote lines of tension within the body, and the notion that tissues have memory. Barral’s clinical work with theviscera led to his development of this form of manual therapy that focuses on the internal organs, their fascial environment and the potential influence on the structural and physiological dysfunctions. He names this therapy Visceral Manipulation.
Visceral Manipulation Benefits:
- Whiplash & Seatbelt Injuries
- Sports Injuries
- Spinal Dysfunction
- Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
- Headaches & Migraines
- Carpal Tunnel
- Joint Pain
- Digestive Disorders
- Acid Reflux
- Post-operative Scar Tissue Pain
- Swallowing Dysfunctions
- Women’s & Men’s Health Issues
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Fibroids & Cysts
- Pediatric Health Issues
- Colic
- Anxiety & Depression
- And more…
Courses taken: Abdomen 1 & 2, Pelvis, Thorax, Manual Thermal Evaluation, Visceral Vascular of the Upper Extremity. (VM1-5, VVMU).
Julee Snyder Bodywork 