What is Visceral Fascial manipulation?
A gentle manual therapy that releases tensions in the connective tissue of the body. This release often influences the body to improve function and ultimately improve the patient's presenting condition. The tension may not be at the site of the pain or weakness but can still influence it. For example neck pain and restriction may come from tensions around the torso.
What to expect after treatment?
The patient may feel minimal difference initially but over several days improvement in the condition becomes evident. This is because it takes some time for the body to integrate the tension changes into the body.
For more information, ask your therapist and explore these links:
https://barralinstitute.com.au/book-a-course/what-is-visceral-manipulation/
Background
Viscero-Fascial Manual Therapy
This widely practiced method was developed by J.P Barral; a Registered Physical Therapist and Osteopath who serves as Director of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulation at the University of Paris School of Medicine, France. A renowned science researcher and lecturer in the field of visceral / fascial mechanics and manual therapy applications including concussion, he has written many substantial text books on the subject and some of these include:
The Thorax 1991, Manual Therapy for the Cranial Nerves 2009, Manual Therapy for the Peripheral Nerves, Trauma 1999, Urogenital Manipulation 1993, Visceral Manipulation 2005, Manual Therapy for the Prostate 2010, Visceral Vascular Manipulations 2009, New Articular Approach; lower Extremity 2013, New Articular Approach Upper Extremity 2013.
This reputable, accepted and widely practiced method has existed on the international stage for some 45 years. In Australia where it has been more recently introduced, the methodology has garnered interest despite its departure from traditional physiotherapeutic practice. There are many case studies and published articles about viscera-fascial mechanics. For example Dr Gail Wetzler a research physiotherapist based in the USA, found in her clinical study a significant neuroreflexive relationship between the internal organs, their attachments and the musculoskeletal lower back when in a state of dysfunction.
The rationale of this treatment technique is that the body does not always reach homeostasis after trauma and physical restrictions, adhesions and stiffness in the body tissues can remain. These restrictions cause reduced movement in a localised area and the body must then find a way to compensate for this loss of movement during activities of daily living or a task. The task is completed by the body but now in a different way, and a new set of movement patterns develop. These new patterns may cause a joint to twist or muscle to contract excessively and slowly other body parts,
at some distance to the original restriction, become negatively impacted. Pain, weakness and fatigue are common outcomes and are what finally motivates the patient to seek treatment.
The aim of this technique is to firstly locate these tissue restrictions in the body and then restore the pre-injury mechanical properties to these tissues. They regain their softness and ability glide over each other in response to gentle but specific manual techniques. The return of normal tissue mechanics normalises local movement patterns. This releases the body's need to compensate around this area and so unloads the kinematic chain that leads to the site of the patient's presenting issue. Once good function is restored, the presenting issue soon resolves.
The therapist is first required to place his/her hand at the top of the patient's head. The head is sphere-like and an anchor point for the many connective tissue bands that wrap around the body. When these tensions are not in bal-ance, they subtly pull at the head unevenly. The therapist's aim is to detect these forces and use the head as a kind of compass for the general direction of imbalances elsewhere in the body.
Once the general location of tension is established, local palpation will identify which specific structures are the source of the ‘pulling ’on the rest of the body. This may include a joint capsule, ligament, nerve or part of a fascial band. The effect of the restricted tissue on the body is then tested to confirm the relevance of the finding. This may include strength, range of motion, balance or specific activity tests.
Finally, manual treatment of the restricted tissues is performed and the effect of this on the body is then re-tested. The manual release is gentle and pain free and palpating at the head confirms whether the treatment has been effective in balancing the fascial tensions.
Over the next few weeks, the therapist and patient then observe whether the patient's body naturally decompensates. Generally, the tissues continue to become more mobile, the kinematic chain normalises and function improves.