I had the opportunity in February to attend a weekend seminar where the topic was visceral manipulation (VM). The viscera are the internal organs of the body, especially those contained within the abdominal and thoracic cavities, such as the liver, heart, and stomach. We are all aware of the pathological effect of immobility on the musculoskeletal system, but have you ever thought of the effect of loss of motion on the viscera?Visceral manipulation is a gentle, hands-on therapy that locates restrictions or imbalances in the organs, their supportive connective tissues, and the musculo-skeletal system. It can help restore normal function and tone to the organs, and can relieve pain anywhere from the pelvis to the neck and shoulders.This type of manipulation is becoming more common in chiropractic offices. Visceral Manipulation therapy was developed by Dr. Jean-Pierre Barral an osteopathic physician and registered physical therapist from France, who has been teaching VM in the United States since 1985. His clinical work with viscera (the internal organs) began while working at the Lung Disease Hospital in Grenoble, France. He has authored numerous professional textbooks and a book for the general public, Understanding the Messages of Your Body.In using this technique, the practitioner feels for altered or decreased motion within the viscera, as well as restrictive patterns throughout the body. Among the conditions that VM can help are bloating and constipation, acid reflux, bladder incontinence, prostate dysfunction, colic in infants and others.As mentioned earlier, VM is a gentle, hands-on therapy in which the practitioner seeks out the source of a pattern in the body where an imbalance or dysfunction may originate. Often that initial source is far from where the pain is felt. The treatment involves gentle compression, mobilization and elongation of the soft tissues related to the pattern. As the source of the problem is released, the symptoms will start to decrease.Strains in the connective tissue of the viscera can result from surgical scars, adhesions, illness, posture or injury. Tension patterns form through the fascial network deep within the body, creating a cascade of effects far from their sources for which the body will have to compensate. This creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body must move around, and this chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems.Imagine an adhesion around the lungs. It would create a modified axis that demands abnormal accommodations from nearby body structures. For example, the adhesion could alter rib motion, which could then create imbalanced forces on the vertebral column and, with time, possibly develop a dysfunctional relationship with other structures. This scenario highlights just one of hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction – magnified by thousands of repetitions each day.I continue to learn more about VM and look forward to using this technique more and more to get people healthy.