Your trunk and pelvis create a bony, muscular, and fascial shell that protects and encases your internal organs. These organs aren't just floating around in your abdomen; they are supported by tissue called fascia and pleura. The whole system is sealed and under pressure, keeping everything tightly packed. Each organ is wrapped in its own pleura and surrounded by a bit of fluid, allowing it to slide and move around its neighboring organs. Any factors that affect the pressures in this system or the ability of organs to slide and move can impact the body's overall movement and function.
Pregnancy, abdominal surgery, infection, jarring injuries, and gut inflammation from an improper diet can all affect the mobility of your organs, or viscera. During pregnancy, a woman's abdomen stretches and reorganizes over nine months to make space for a growing baby. However, issues can arise during and after labor when the body undergoes rapid changes. A sudden shift in pressure can cause organs to move, and their ability to return to proper positions depends on factors like the labor's progress, muscle damage, and any surgeries performed.
C-sections and other abdominal surgeries can create adhesions, or 'stickiness,' in the viscera. The abdomen is not meant to come into direct contact with air or blood. During surgery, the abdomen is exposed to ambient air or pumped with air for laparoscopic procedures. This exposure can cause dryness or stickiness, restricting normal organ mobility. Blood fibrin can also lead to adhesions that decrease visceral mobility. Visceral manipulation, which involves applying light to firm pressure, can help assess and treat these restrictions, restoring mobility between the abdominal contents and the abdominal wall.
Because the fascial wrappings of your organs form a continuous piece of connective tissue, restrictions in one area can cause symptoms in other areas. Imagine wearing a tight T-shirt and twisting a piece into a knot. You'll feel the pull from your lower left abdomen up to your right shoulder. Similarly, your body will protect the restricted area, leading to alignment issues and compensatory movement patterns. These issues can cause pain and tension in the bones and muscles. While treating these symptoms can provide relief, if the problem keeps returning, it may be due to an underlying visceral restriction.
