Visceral Manipulation and Neural Manipulation
What is Visceral and Neural Manipulation
Visceral and Neural Manipulation are gentle manual therapies that work with the organs, nervous system, and connective tissue throughout the body. These highly specialized osteopathic techniques release deep restrictions in the body while enhancing the functioning of the organs and nervous system. With these methods we always work with the body, letting your tissues guide our hands to the right depth and pressure.
Visceral and Neural Manipulation are excellent therapies for old and new injuries, surgeries and chronic pain patterns. They are especially helpful when you’ve tried many things and nothing is working. Sometimes a deeper layer needs to be addressed.
Even very old injuries create tensions and pulls in your body. You may have adapted well for a long time, but new injuries, inflammatory events like a virus or chronic stress, or an accident can aggravate the old injury and the patterns your body developed to compensate. These events often push your body past its ability to adapt, creating a complex pattern that reaches into all layers of the body.
How does it work?
First, we assess where the restrictions in the soft tissues are limiting movement and function. For example, if you’ve had your appendix removed, even if it was many years ago, there may be scar tissue that is causing a “pull” in your lower right abdomen. This can affect the ovary and uterus, bladder, large and small intestine. If the restriction is strong enough it can create tension all the way into your shoulder or down your leg.
Next, we determine which visceral and neural manipulation techniques your body needs. We also incorporate craniosacral therapy, myofascial release or acupuncture into your treatment. By releasing restrictions and allowing normal movement, we enhance the function of the organ, relieving stress on the body.
See the Barral Institute for much more detail at http://barralinstitute.com/therapies/index.php
Visceral Manipulation works with structural and functional imbalances in the organs of the whole body. We check the tension in the organs, their ligaments, and how the organs are able to move appropriately inside the body with your normal movements. Your organs need to be able to glide and slide past each other when you move/twist/bend. Restrictions in and around the organs from inflammation, surgeries, injuries, or illness can make things “stick” inside, and can be the root cause of back or neck pain in addition to local pain.
Neural Manipulation is much like Craniosacral Therapy, but more targeted and specific. It works with the Nerves, bones of the skull and spine, and the Dura (surrounding tissue of brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nerves throughout your body. As stated on the Barral institute website, “A nerve only functions correctly when it is able to move feely within its surrounding structures”. The nerves can get “stuck” in the surrounding tissue in the same way that organs and other tissues can get stuck or tight….inflammation from injury, chronic postural issues, illness. Viruses, such as covid or Epstein-Barr as also common causes of nerve inflammation.
We gently stretch and lengthen the nerves, and release the tight tissues in the nerve pathway to help the nerves glide and slide through tissues and to reduce inflammation in the surrounding areas. When the nerve restrictions are removed, the entire structure it innervates can function better.
What Does Visceral and Neural Manipulation Treat?
Referenced from BarralInstitute.com
- Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
- Headaches & Migraines
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Joint Pain
- Digestive Disorders
- Post-operative Scar Tissue Pain
- Swallowing Dysfunctions
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Whiplash Injuries
- Birth Injuries
- Neuralgia & Neuritis
- Tendinitis
- Sprains & Traumatic Lesions
- Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Women’s Health Issues
- Men’s Health Issues
- Chronic Pain
- And More
Available only in combination with Acupuncture w/ Dr. Jennie