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Abdominal Massage

Lidder Therapies offers abdominal (visceral) massage release therapy in Hitchin and Hertford.

What is Abdominal visceral release therapy?

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Abdominal massage therapy is a gentle, hands-on manual therapy used to help your internal organs (viscera) glide smoothly within your body. We can use this technique to treat symptoms such as abdominal pain, pelvic pain, constipation and scar tissue. 

 

Your internal organs are surrounded by connective tissue that holds them in place in the body. Healthy connective tissue should move easily to allow organs to slide on each other when you rotate or bend your trunk.

 

Connective tissue should be loose enough to allow your stomach to expand when you eat, your lungs to open and accept air, your intestines to constrict and relax to move waste to your colon.

 

Congested or inflamed connective tissue impedes these small but significant movements. This creates visceral discomfort and dysfunction and can lead to restricted movement and pain in other parts of the body.

Lidder Therapies, Physiotherapy, Hitchin

Scar Tissue and Adhesions in the Body

Your thoracic and abdominal viscera control your breathing, digestion, immune system, reproductive system, and hormonal response. The human body is a complex system with many interconnected subsystems, all working together to help you thrive. When one of those systems is compromised in any way, the body compensates.

 

Inflammation from illness or trauma can thicken and tighten the fascial network that supports nearby organs. If an organ gets shifted due to a specific trauma, such as a fall, it may get “stuck,” creating restrictions in your movement and dysfunction in the organ.

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Surgeries – including c-sections, side effects from medication, or chemotherapy can also create adhesions in the viscera. As a surgical scar heals, the connective tissue supporting the skin can start to bind with deeper tissues, creating a pattern of restriction that can extend far beyond the original incision.

 

How does abdominal visceral release work?

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To perform abdominal massage, we will do an assessment and determine if restrictions in your abdominal viscera may be contributing to your discomfort. We can then use specific techniques to mobilise the tissue to create more efficient function throughout the body. 

 

What conditions can abdominal visceral release massage treat?

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  • Pelvic pain 

  • Scar tissue 

  • Constipation

  • Bladder pain

  • Back pain 

  • Endometriosis

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What are the side effects of abdominal visceral release?

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If performed by a skilled and trained practitioner, there should be little to no side effects to visceral manipulation. Some patients have reported experiencing some temporary soreness as well as headaches.

 

How does abdominal visceral release feel?

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Visceral manipulation is a gentle compression that can feel like a stretch or mild pressure in the abdomen. This stretching and compression may result in some mild warmth or tingling to the area due to increased blood flow. 

 

Abdominal visceral release contraindications

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There are very few contraindications to visceral manipulation. Some of those contraindications include infection, inflammation, and signs of recent trauma. Our trained therapists take every precaution to ensure that you are safe.

 

How can abdominal visceral release help you? 

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If you are experiencing bloating, constipation, pelvic pain or have an abdominal scar visceral release may help you reduce any restrictions in the fascia / connective tissue surrounding your visceral organs. All organs should be able to move, slide and glide in response to the breath and any movement that we perform. If the organ is restricted this can lead to pain and discomfort. 
 

If you are unsure how we can help or what treatment you require please get in touch

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT VISCERAL RELEASE THERAPY

I visited Bally around 4 years after the birth of my second child. I’d had two c-sections and both had left me with a build up of scar tissue around the incision area. After my second child, I also developed a slight overhang of tummy flesh which, while not too bad, was sometimes visible under clothing. I had visited a private cosmetic surgery clinic to ask about remedial surgery and was told it was possible. However, I was wary of creating more problems with scar tissue resulting from the surgery. Bally performed visceral release and massage therapy for several weeks and released the scar tissue creating a more streamlined profile. It also reduced some residual pain and itching along the line of the scar. Bally was always lovely and approachable, putting me at ease every step of the way and explaining what she was doing and why at all times. Bally’s knowledge of the human body and what happens to women before, during and after childbirth is outstanding. I’d recommend her to any woman needing advice or physio following the birth of their child.​

Mrs KS

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