Visceral Manipulation

What can Visceral Manipulation help with?

It helps those who have had babies, surgery in their abdomen, COVID or other illnesses, completed cleanses, bloating, and bad posture. Basically, everyone can benefit from getting their organs/tissues looked at and Visceral Manipulation of them can help. 

Visceral Manipulation assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, eliminatory, neuroendocrine and lymphatic dysfunction.

Visceral Manipulation and Organs:

• Visceral manipulation massage (VMM) is great for your organs and helps them function better. VMM does not "heal" organs directly but rather improves their function by releasing tension and restrictions in the surrounding tissues and fascia. 
• Restores Organ Mobility: It addresses fascial restrictions that limit an organ's natural movement, allowing it to function more efficiently. Julie is very good at manipulating stuck organs gently to help situate them and ensure that they are releasing lymph and wastes. 
• Improves Function: Restoring proper organ movement and function, can help with digestive issues, respiratory restrictions, and pelvic pain.

Who Can Benefit from VMM?  

• Individuals with chronic digestive issues, such as constipation or IBS.
• People recovering from abdominal or pelvic surgeries.
• Those experiencing chronic pain conditions, including low back pain or pelvic pain.
• Individuals with respiratory issues or postural problems.

How Visceral Manipulation Massage (VMM) Helps Post-surgery:

• 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. 
• 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. 

Visceral Manipulation's Postpartum Benefits

Any woman who has given birth, even years later, can benefit from postpartum visceral manipulation therapy!

How VM Helps in Postpartum Recovery:

• C-section and Scar Tissue: VM addresses fascial restrictions and scar tissue that may have formed after abdominal surgery, which can inhibit organ movement.  
• Diastasis Recti: VM can help with diastasis recti (DRA) by addressing underlying fascial restrictions and improving the tension in the abdominal wall.  
• Pelvic and Digestive Health: VM promotes better bladder and bowel control, improves digestive function, and helps with constipation, bloating, and other digestive discomforts.
• Reduces Pelvic Pain: VM restores the mobility and function of organs in the pelvic cavity, which can alleviate low back pain, hip issues, and general pelvic tension.  
• Enhances Circulation: The gentle work encourages better blood circulation to the pelvic organs, supporting their function and healing.  

Visceral Manipulation Massage & Your Pelvic Floor

Visceral manipulation for the pelvic floor involves gentle, hands-on techniques to address restrictions in the organs and surrounding tissues within the pelvic region. This can help improve pelvic floor function, reduce pain, and enhance overall well-being. It can be part of a comprehensive pelvic floor therapy approach.  

How it Relates to the Pelvic Floor:

The pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in supporting pelvic organs (bladder, uterus/prostate, rectum). When organ mobility is restricted, it can affect the pelvic floor's ability to function properly, leading to issues like:  

• Bladder and bowel dysfunction: Difficulty controlling urination or bowel movements.
• Pelvic pain: Chronic pain in the pelvic region.
• Sexual dysfunction: Pain or discomfort during intercourse.
• Poor posture and biomechanics: Restrictions in organ movement can impact overall body alignment.  

Visceral Manipulation Techniques for the Pelvic Floor:

Visceral manipulation therapists like Julie use gentle, hands-on techniques to assess and treat restrictions in the pelvic region. These techniques may involve:

• Gentle pressure and stretching: Applying light pressure to the organs and surrounding tissues to release tension.
• Fascial release: Working with the connective tissue (fascia) that surrounds and supports the organs.  
• Organ mobilization: Gently guiding the organs through their normal movement patterns.  
• Myofascial release: Addressing trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles to reduce tension.  

Benefits of Visceral Manipulation on the Pelvic Floor:

• Improved organ mobility and function: Helps organs move more freely, promoting better bladder and bowel control.  
• Reduced pelvic pain: Can alleviate pain associated with pelvic floor dysfunction or organ restrictions.  
• Enhanced pelvic floor coordination: Improves the ability of the pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax effectively. 
• Increased blood flow and tissue regeneration: Can promote healing and reduce inflammation in the pelvic region.  

Who Can Benefit from Visceral Manipulation of the Pelvic Floor?

Visceral manipulation of the pelvic floor can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals, including those with:

• Pelvic pain conditions: Such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome.  
• Gastrointestinal issues: Including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or bloating.  
• Urinary or fecal incontinence: Difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements.  
• Post-surgical complications: Such as scar tissue or adhesions. 
• Pregnancy and postpartum recovery: To address changes in pelvic floor function and organ support.  

What to Expect During and After a Session

• Gentle and Soft: The treatment feels soft and gentle, with no sharp sensations.
• Varying Duration: Sessions can be brief (a few minutes) or longer, depending on the area being treated. Average sessions are an hour in length. 
• Restoration Period: The body uses the released restrictions to adapt and restore itself, with benefits often lasting for weeks to months after a session. It is crucial that you hydrate following Visceral Manipulation massage to help your tissues expel waste and rehydrate.
• 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 one to a few sessions, while others may need more. The goal is to produce lasting changes by addressing the root of the issue. 
• 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.
• Julie's Guidance: Julie will guide you on the process and how many sessions might be needed. She also believes that sharing knowledge with clients is ideal so that they can work on their own bodies when they can't make it in to Posture Massage in Stamford or Westport Connecticut. Come on in and give it a try!