What is visceral manipulation therapy?

Visceral manipulation is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy used to help your internal organs (viscera) glide smoothly within your body. Your trained physical therapist can use visceral techniques to treat abdominal pain, constipation, cramps, and digestive issues, to improve your organ function and your quality of life.

Your internal organs are surrounded by connective tissue that holds them in place in the body. Healthy connective tissue should move easily to allow organs to slide on each other when you rotate or flex your torso. This mobility is essential for the proper functioning of your visceral system.

Connective tissue should be loose enough to allow your stomach to expand when you eat, your lungs to open and accept air, and your intestines to constrict and relax to move waste to your colon.

When the connective tissue becomes inflamed or congested, it impairs these small but vital movements. This can cause visceral discomfort, limit mobility, and lead to painful restrictions in various parts of the body.

Scar Tissue and Adhesions in the Body

Your thoracic and abdominal viscera control your breathing, digestion, immune system, reproductive system, and hormonal response. The human body is a complex system with many interconnected subsystems, all working together to help you thrive. When one of those systems is compromised in any way, the body compensates.

Inflammation from illness or trauma can thicken and tighten the fascial network that supports nearby organs. If an organ gets shifted due to a specific trauma, such as a fall, it may get “stuck,” creating restrictions in your movement and dysfunction in the organ.

Surgeries – including c-sections, side effects from medication, or chemotherapy can also create adhesions in the viscera. As a surgical scar heals, the connective tissue supporting the skin can start to bind with deeper tissues, creating a pattern of restriction that can extend far beyond the original incision.

Who can benefit from visceral treatment?

Visceral manipulation can treat many different conditions. This makes it helpful for most adults. Our day-to-day lives and circumstances can often cause tissue restrictions and bodily imbalances over time. Visceral manipulation addresses those restrictions and imbalances, decreases painful areas of the body, and promotes bodily healing.

What conditions can visceral therapy treat?

In studies, visceral manipulation has been known to be beneficial for many disorders, including:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (sciatica, carpal tunnel, joint pain, neck pain, etc.)

• Digestive disorders (GERD, nausea, constipation, etc.)

• Emotional issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.)

• Acute disorders (whiplash, concussion, sports injuries, TBIs, etc.)

• Women’s health issues

• Post-operative and post-infection scar tissue

How does visceral manipulation massage feel like?

Visceral manipulation is a gentle compression that can feel like a stretch or mild pressure in the abdomen. This stretching and compression during the treatment session may result in some mild warmth or tingling to the area due to increased blood flow. 

It is a very specific technique used in physical therapy by trained professionals.

How does visceral massage work?

To perform visceral manipulation, your physical therapist will do an assessment and determine if restrictions in your abdominal or thoracic viscera may be contributing to your discomfort.

Your visceral PT will then use special treatment techniques to move the tissue. This helps your organs work better in your body.