Visceral osteopathy

Osteopathy can help in the treatment for all kinds of intestinal problems from gastritis to irritable bowel syndrome, and for pelvic problems such as period pains or irritable bladder. For instance visceral osteopathy improves the function of the gut by increasing its mobility and by improving both nerve and blood supply to the organs, and their membranes and ligaments.

The viscera (the internal organs) are enclosed in soft membranes and are attached by ligaments to the internal walls of body cavities and the spine. Whenever your spine moves the organs attached to it move with it. Similarly the abdominal organs move as your diaphragm moves up and down during breathing. The internal organs must allow the trunk to bend and twist and the diaphragm to move during breathing. Adhesions and tensions can alter or restrict these movements and stress the organs.

Visceral restrictions and your body

Visceral restrictions can also affect your posture. When an organ can no longer move normally it sets up abnormal points of tension that your body must move around. This can happen gradually and it may only be when someone points out that you are no longer standing straight that you notice you have stiffened up and some movements are difficult.

There is a saying in visceral osteopathy that "the body hugs the lesion". This means that a person will look as if they are trying to wrap themselves around the tense area.

Why does it happen?

There are many ways that visceral restrictions can develop:

After surgery as your wound heals the scars can tighten. The scarring can be deep, but as it takes months or even a year to form, it often goes unnoticed.
Bacterial or viral infections such as pneumonia or influenza ("flu") can damage both the organs and their membranes.
The viscera can be displaced or injured if your body suffers trauma, such as a car crash. For instance the liver which is a very large and heavy organ may move in the direction of the impact and not return to its normal place. Even though this displacement may only be a matter of a centimetre or two it can lead to mid back pain.

Visceral restrictions often do not cause symptoms, and it can come as quite a surprise for a patient to discover that a recurrent low back pain is actually due to tensions in the gut or a caesarean that they had decades ago.

How are visceral dysfunctions treated?

As with all osteopathic treatment, the aim of visceral work is to restore normal mobility. The techniques we use gently restore movement to the restricted organ and to the ligaments which support it. By using a combination of direct and indirect techniques, we are able to encourage the tissues to release.