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Visceral Manipulation Massage and Surgery Recovery
Visceral manipulation is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy that can help with post-surgical recovery by addressing restrictions in the internal organs and their surrounding connective tissues. After surgery, scar tissue and adhesions can form, limiting organ mobility and causing pain or dysfunction throughout the body. Julie at Posture Massage Connecticut, a qualified practitioner, uses light, precise pressure to help release this tension and restore natural organ movement.
How Visceral Manipulation Massage (VMM) Helps Post-surgery:
- Breaks down scar tissue and adhesions: Surgery, infection, or trauma can cause internal scar tissue, known as adhesions, to develop. Visceral manipulation is shown to help break up these adhesions, freeing the organs to move properly.
- Restores organ mobility: Organs must be able to move freely and glide against one another for optimal function. Surgery can disrupt this natural movement, but visceral manipulation helps reestablish it, which can improve organ function.
- Reduces chronic pain: Since the body's fascial network is interconnected, restrictions in one area can cause pain in another. By releasing tension in the organs and fascia, visceral manipulation can resolve related pain in the back, neck, pelvis, and other areas.
- Improves digestive function: For those who have had abdominal surgery, visceral manipulation can aid in digestion by encouraging proper movement and circulation in the stomach, intestines, and other organs.
- Boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage: The gentle manual pressure helps increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can help reduce swelling and support the body's natural healing process.
When to Seek Visceral Manipulation Massage After Surgery:
- Consult your doctor first: Before beginning any post-surgical massage or therapy, it is crucial to get clearance from your surgeon or healthcare provider.
- You May Need to wait until incisions are healed: Depending on the surgery, it may be recommended to wait until the incision sites have fully healed, this can even be a few weeks after surgery. However, you doctor and Julie also know the extent of your surgery and what techniques could actually be beneficial, even right after your surgery, such as lymphatic drainage massage.
- Start gently: Gentle massage can often be introduced earlier than more intense treatments. For instance, manual lymphatic drainage (which is often used in conjunction with visceral work) may be recommended as soon as a few days after some procedures.
- Early intervention is beneficial: Some practitioners note that starting scar tissue massage earlier (with your doctor's clearance) can be more effective than waiting until the scar is fully formed months later.
- Listen to your body: While you may feel discomfort as restrictions are released, the process should not be painful. Communicate with Julie about how you are feeling.
What to Expect During and After a Session:
- VMM sessions are gentle: Visceral Manipulation therapy is non-invasive and uses light touch, compression, and mobilization techniques.
- Focuses on the whole body: Julie will assess the entire body to find the source of the problem, as the site of pain can be far from the root cause.
- Potential temporary soreness: It is normal to feel some soreness or discomfort for a day or two after a session. To aid recovery, Julie recommends staying hydrated and resting.
- Lasting effects: Many people experience significant improvement within just a few sessions, while others may need more. The goal is to produce lasting changes by addressing the root of the issue.
