Visceral Mobilization
Why is my Pelvic Floor PT worried about my organs?
Okay, guys! Just in time for the beginning of the new year- .let’s talk about our organs. Now you may be thinking, “Wait a minute…My organs? What does that have to do with anything?”
As ya’ll know, Pelvic Floor Therapists are specifically trained to treat a variety of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunctions. By extension, PFPT can also help with back and hip pain – as well as many other places in the kinetic chain. But did you know that all those organs sitting in your abdominal cavity can have a significant effect on how your pelvic floor functions?
Every single organ in our body is covered in or supported by a layer of tissue called fascia. Fascia is a very unique (and special) type of connective tissue made of up collagen fibers. Very similar to the consistency of the white fibers found in oranges, fascia connects everything in the body from ligament to bone to muscle to nerve down to the individual cell (and yes, your organs, too). Fascia helps lubricate the entire system, ensuring that the body moves as we move. But, if the fascia helps move the body, then it can also cause it to “lock” down. The kicker is that fascial tension can develop and cause restrictions throughout our body, leading to pain and dysfunction.
Common causes of fascial restriction include:
Trauma and injury
Posture
Stress
Repetitive work
However, where we may feel pain from a fascial restriction is not necessarily where that tension is located. For example, you may have right-sided neck pain after a long day at work. But the fascial restriction is actually located somewhere else. A pelvic floor physical therapist is trained to find these restrictions and work to release them. What most people don’t know about is that our visceral organs can contribute to myofascial restrictions. Each organ has its own rhythm of movement to ensure that it is working properly. However, if the fascia surrounding the organ is too sticky, then the organ can’t do its job – and will “pull down” everything around it.
For example, if the large intestine has significant restrictions, this may cause constipation. Conservely, restrictions in the bladder may lead to incontinence or urinary retention. A structure that is often affected by these restrictions is the diaphragm, which will in turn affect our breathing and core strength.
This is where visceral mobilization (VM) comes in. A form of myofascial release, VM is a very gentle and safe technique that can help to loosen up fascial tension. The technique consists of very light pressure and may help to relax the nervous system. Your physical therapist will assess you for any restrictions in all planes of motion and allow the fascia to guide the treatment.
The thing with fascia is that it cannot be forced: If an organ is tight, the brain is keeping it that way for a reason. So the fascia has to be persuaded to release, to move out of its protective, restricted mode. This typically involved gentle pressure where the therapist’s hands are allowed to “sink” into the tissue – past the barrier of the skin to the deeper layers. The “hold” will typically last 3-5 minutes at the end of which you may feel a release – often described like taffy or butter melting. Your therapist may chose to hold the tissue for that time or may slowly mobilize the tissue – depending on what the fascia needs
Visceral Mobilization can also help improve blood flow, stretch muscles associated with the organs, and increase the overall function of the local soft tissue. Visceral mobilization is particularly effective for people that have undergone C-sections or other abdominal surgeries.
Overall, VM is a very safe, effective technique that works well as an adjunct approach when addressing the pelvic floor!
<3 The Recharged Performance Therapy Team
(321) 802-1630
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKvVmvGWFhc
https://www.rebalancept.com/what-is-visceral-mobilization/
https://www.rebalancept.com/visceral-mobilization/
Comprehensive Myofascial Self Treatment by Joyce Karnis, PT