Visceral Osteopathy
Visceral refers to the viscera, the organs of the body. Visceral osteopathy focuses its attention on treating the gliding capacity of the organs and their enveloping fascia. Each organ in good health is moving independently of its surroundings. Any restriction, fixation or adhesion to another structure, no matter how small, may diminish the function of the organ. Visceral osteopathy looks at those impairments and treats them with manual techniques.
What can be treated with visceral osteopathy?
Chronic Pain
Different organs have connections to different parts of the skeletal system. The liver can cause problems in the right shoulder and neck, the stomach may be responsible for rib pain and lower back pain on the left side and the small intestine may aggravate lower limb pain syndromes.
If chronic pain persists despite regular treatment and self care, visceral adhesions may be the underlying factor.
Scar tissue
An excellent indication for visceral osteopathy is the treatment of scar tissue. After surgery in the abdominal and lower pelvic area, an osteopath can check for adhesions, and if the scar negatively influences the skeletal system and posture.
Breathing Difficulties
Adhesions caused by the fascia in the thoracic cavity as well as the diaphragm area, can influence the function of the lungs as well as the mobility of the chest and thoracic spine. Especially with asthma and other respiratory diseases, those restrictions can be found often. Improving the rib and thoracic spine mobility and releasing those restrictions helps the client to breathe easier and deeper.
Digestive Problems
Visceral osteopathy is a supportive therapy in treating functional digestive problems like IBS, flatulence or “belly ache”. By improving the inherent motion of each organ, the blood and lymph flow increases and the function of this organ can improve over time. It is important to note, that visceral osteopathy does not replace healthy eating and lifestyle habits.
Disclaimer: Visceral Osteopathy does not replace a medical diagnoses. It is important that the client has received a medical diagnosis before starting visceral treatment and receives appropriate medical treatment for this diagnoses.
