Visceral Therapy in Waterdown, Ontario

Visceral manipulation involves the gentle manipulation of the fascia and ligaments surrounding pelvic and abdominal organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, and is thought to assist functional and structural imbalances in the body, including musculoskeletal, nervous, vascular, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction.

Diagram of abdominal visceral organs

A physical restriction to the viscera can result from physical trauma such as a slip or fall, motor vehicle accident, or surgery, and may be caused by other traumas such as pregnancy and delivery, gut infections, poor posture, and emotional stress.

Visceral manipulation seeks to assess and treat the mobility and motility of a client's organs and determine whether it is a driving force behind their pain, alignment, or mobility issues. As an adjunctive approach, it helps address clients’ problems that seem to run deeper than their muscles and bones by providing a link between somatic structures, like muscles and joints, visceral organs, and the sympathetic nervous system.

For example, persistent chest infections and coughing can create tension in the pleura of the lung and limit shoulder or trunk mobility. Similarly, restrictions in the fascia attached to a woman’s ovaries can lead to low back pain. The goal of therapy is to identify factors contributing to pain and dysfunction and bring the body back into balance.

Conditions treated by visceral manipulation

  • Bloating and constipation

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • Nausea and acid reflux

  • Peripheral joint and muscle pain

  • Pain related to post-operative scar tissue

  • Chronic pelvic pain

  • Headaches and migraines

  • Many other conditions

Mark Boutillier is a Manual Osteopathic Practitioner (DOMP) practicing in Waterdown, Ontario