Visceral Manipulation: An alternative therapy.

Visceral Manipulation

I have always been fascinated by the human body and its messages. I stumbled upon this therapy when seeking treatment from my Osteopath due to chronic lower back pain. At this point in my life, I have tried everything to combat such pain. I did chiropractic care for years, massage, acupuncture, when to a physio when it got really bad one time and I swear that was the last time I would do dry needling, even though effective, it was quite painful. All these therapies are quite helpful in assisting us to get closer to our answers, to the why of our symptoms, however, sometimes we also do not get to the root of the problem. While this can be multifactorial, it is important to explore other modalities if we reach a plateau with our health progress.

When I injured my back 10 years ago while dancing, I had very little knowledge about my own body. It is still a work in progress, yet today I feel more at ease and have been incorporating everything I know so far into myself and to help others. There is this mentality going around that for a treatment to be effective, the pain has to be present in order to feel that it is working. "NO PAIN, NO GAIN''. While everyone's needs are different, it is also important to understand that our bodies are heavily influenced by our nervous system, and when there is already pain present due to emotional or physical stress or both, more gentle therapies are necessary to soothe our nervous system and walk away from imbalance.

If you have tried everything under the sun and you are open-minded to try gentle therapy, then this is for you.

What’s Visceral Manipulation?

“Viscera” relates to the body’s internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines.

Visceral Manipulation or VM is a gentle manual therapy that aid’s your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. VM does not focus solely on the site of discomfort but evaluates the entire body to find the source of the problem. The VM therapist can re-establish the body’s ability to adapt and restore itself to health through different techniques.

How many sessions does it take?

The number of treatments will differ according to each person’s situation, and a treatment plan will be customized based on how the body responds. Zam can integrate VM into a regular 60 min or 90 min massage.

What does it feel like?

It feels like a gentle compression, mobilization and elongation in the abdomen. No oil is used, but contact with the skin is still performed.

How do organs contribute to pain and dysfunction?

Your body comprises many interconnected components – bones, muscles, nerves, a thin connective tissue called fascia, and organs. The organs are in constant motion. When you breathe, walk and stretch, your organs move in your chest and abdomen. This movement transmits through the fascia.

Organs can lose mobility due to physical trauma, surgery, lifestyle, infection, pollution, diet, posture, pregnancy, etc. When an organ is fixed to another structure, the body is forced to compensate.

For example: Imagine scar tissue around the lungs. Every breath requires movement, but the scar tissue alters the typical pattern. This could shift rib movement, creating pulls on the spine resulting in mid-back and neck pain and limiting shoulder movement. This is just one of many possible ramifications of a minor dysfunction.

Visceral Manipulation Benefits:

Whiplash & Seat belt injuries

Sports Injuries

Lower back pain and sciatica

Headaches & Migraines

Carpal Tunnel

Joint Pain

Digestive Disorders

Acid Reflux

Post-Operative Scar Tissue

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Women’s health issues

And more!

Yours in health,

Zamboz Sanctuary