The purpose of Visceral Manipulation is to recreate, harmonize, and increase proprioceptive communication in the body, in order to enhance its internal mechanism for optimum health. Visceral manipulation is organ-specific fascial mobilization, and is based on the premise that free movement within the body is vital, and thus any restriction will adversely affect health. Visceral manipulation treats functional and structural imbalances throughout the body, with an aim to affect musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction. It evaluates and treats the dynamics of motion and suspension in relation to organs, membranes, fascia, and ligaments and increases proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby revitalizing it, and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture. Visceral manipulation relies on the palpation of normal and abnormal forces within the body, with the specific goal of encouraging normal tone and movements, both within and between the internal organs, their connective tissue, and other structures of the body where normal motion has been impaired. By using precise manual techniques, such as palpation of the superficial and deep fascia and the mobility and motility of individual organs, therapists can evaluate how abnormal forces interplay, overlap, and affect the normal body forces at work. The goal of visceral manipulation is to help the body return to normal function and thereby remove compensatory symptoms, whatever their source, leading to improved health and optimal body functioning.
 

Your organs are soft and need to move inside your body to do their jobs. Visceral mobility is how well your organs can contract and release and squish as needed. Overburdened or damaged organs can develop adhesions and scar tissue that makes them less pliable. When the fascia — the connective tissue and fluid around organs — becomes stiff, it limits their movement and pliability and hinders your organs’ function.

This carries through to the rest of your body, and there are two main ideas behind why. First there’s the logic that the entire body is innervated, so problems on the organ side of the nerve carry through the length of the nerve to muscles and limbs. The second idea is that stiff fascia around an organ formed because there was a problem, and that’s your body’s way of protecting vulnerable spots. Once the problem resolves, the fascia remains. Your whole body’s movement stems from your core, and pain and tightness from your organs sends the signal to limit movement from the parts of your body that will expose the vulnerable area.
 

Visceral manipulation involves abdominal massage that combines pressing, deep strokes, and friction to strip away the adhesions. The goal is to restore the pliable, mobile state that helps your organs get the circulation, nutrients, and suppleness they need to function properly.

Benefits of visceral manipulationLike I said before, you have to experience it to believe it. There’s nothing like feeling your muscles and joints release and realign, all because someone worked on your abdominal cavity for a while.

Anecdotally, people report improvements in many areas, like:

Reduced chronic muscle pain

Less bloating and constipation

Improvements with uterine fibroids and cysts

Reduced joint pain

Improved sciatica

Relief from carpal tunnel

Less trouble from “old” injuries

Diminished symptoms of fibromyalgia

Improved digestion

These are only a small selection of the long list of things people report as benefits from visceral manipulation.