Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a manual therapy that uses the body’s visceral system (organs) to find and correct abnormal points of tension in the body.
French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral began developing Visceral Manipulation in the late 1970’s. While studying biomechanics, he became interested in the visceral system and it’s ability to cause tension in the body. Noting how thickening tissues in the body created areas of tension that pulled on surrounding tissue, he began to develop a form of manual therapy focusing on the organs of the body, their connective tissue and how they could lead to functional and structural problems.
Visceral Manipulation is effective in treating a wide variety of conditions including:
During VM treatment, the practitioner uses specific techniques to evaluate how abnormal forces in the body are affecting the normal body forces. For example, scar tissue, illness, posture, and injury can all cause strains in the connective tissue of the viscera causing effects far from their source that the body has to compensate for. The treatment is very gentle and includes stretching, mobilization and compression of the soft tissue. As the tension is released, symptoms decrease as the body returns to optimal health. It can take several days after treatment to take affect.
Visceral Manipulation is available through Osteopaths, Sports Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Registered Massage Therapists.
Select a region to view to corresponding Visceral Manipulation professionals operating there:
