Course Description

Visceral Manipulation palpation skills and techniques will be taught to assist the practitioner in identifying and mobilizing the organ and will learn to identify the different levels of the structures (tissue, capsule, fluid, neural, and blood supply to the organs.) Very specific techniques will be taught to mobilize the visceral body on structural, fluidic and electro-magnetic level according to the traditional Osteopathic approach.

This course is excellent for practitioners who are looking to gain tools for those patients who may not be responding to treatment to visceral strains and shears that present as a primary cause.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will name specific anatomy based on osteopathic principles necessary to be proficient in visceral manipulation.
  • Students will identify the Role of the Artery as Absolute, according to the founder of Osteopathy, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, and will learn several of the axes of motion of the viscera according to traditional osteopathic teachings to lay the foundation for palpation & listening strategies according to visceral manipulation.
  • Students will practice some of the oscillatory techniques used to mobilize the container of the structural body and to help identify where vaulting tendencies may be present.
  • Students will recognize patterns of motion connected to viscera, bone, joints, and capillaries to become proficient in visceral manipulation.
  • Students will identify the anatomy of the visceral body and the pressure systems contained within the 5+1 spheres (cranial, cervical, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, and core link.)
  • Students will gain proficiency in palpation techniques that will open up the body structurally in order to reach the visceral body.
  • Students will differentiate structural, fluidic and energetic bodies from a classical osteopathic point of view, including their unique characteristics.
  • Students will identify the barrier of tissue as it is important to not go beyond the boundary.
  • Students will practice 4 classic treatment approaches with focus placed on dialoguing with strains in the direction of ease verses into the direction of the strain and apply it to the level of the viscera with biodynamic listening.
  • Students will observe clinical sessions where a variety of the learned techniques will be applied.
  • Students become competent in palpation strategies for fluid, structure and electro-magnetic field of some of the viscera in the gastrointestinal, cardiorespiratory, urogenital, and neuroendocrine systems. An introduction to the all-influential visceral spine defined as the central chain by Phillippe Druelle, D.O.
  • Students will increase expertise in how trauma may impact the central nervous system innervation and the structure of the spine. Interrelationships will be discussed.
  • Students will identify oscillation techniques according to the General Osteopathic Technique (GOT.)
  • Students will differentiate bone, fascia, viscera, nerves and blood vessels with regard to palpation for manual therapy.
  • Students become competent in palpation strategies for fluid, structure and electro-magnetic field of the viscera, specifically stomach, liver and small intestine.
  • Students will obtain greater awareness of techniques to open up the greater and lesser omentums also known as “the other organs” that can help people who face the potential of digestive stagnation.
  • Students will increase visceral manipulation skills of the small intestine, lungs and plural recesses to help the two eliminatory systems.
  • Students will locate and increase palpations kills of the kidneys, psoas, visceral pelvis, to gain greater knowledge of the urogenital visceral manipulation approach.
  • A brief introduction to auto-immune tendencies including the subject of Lyme disease will be presented.
  • Some journeying through the anatomy in meditative state as well as other integrative techniques will be shared.

Course Contents

This course will be taught in 6 three-hour lectures with a short break and an additional optional 20 minute Q&A. There will be a PPT presentation with each lecture as well as techniques. Two of these lectures will include a clinical demonstration with Q&A and practice. 

Session One:

The Visceral Body and the Visceral Spheres, Development of Visceral Manipulation and an introduction to the structures of the visceral spine, known as the central chain. Structural Body, Fluid Body, and Electromagnetic Body, 4 Approaches to Dialoguing with the tissue: Compression, 50/50 Reciprocal Tension, Hoover, and Sutherland with the Use of Ease. Viscera and the axes of motion. Introduction to the Lymphatics. Clavicle Release. Cisterna Chylii.

Session Two:

Introduction, Course Overview, The Role of the Artery is Absolute, Interrelationships Spine to Viscera, and General Osteopathic Techniques to open the container. Demonstration of oscillation techniques for extremities, vertebra and pelvic girdle. Question and answers for oscillation techniques and osteopathic foundations.

Session Three:

Gastrointestinal System: Stomach, Liver, Duodenum Small Intestines. Greater/Lesser Omentum. Embryology. Greater/Lesser Omentums, with Case Studies. Question and Answer.

Session Four:

The Cardiorespiratory System: Lungs, Plural recesses, Heart. Covid 19 applications for post-covid syndrome and prevention.

Session Five:

The Urogenital System: Kidney/Psoas/Pelvic Girdle Rebalance plus demonstrations. Demonstration of palpation techniques, Fascia, Viscera, Nerve vs Vein vs Artery and the Femoral Triangle. Clinical.

Session Six:

The 14 Diaphragms. PPT Case Studies and the Innervation Pathways to the Viscera, Fascia, Viscera. Integrative Work and an Intro to Neuroendocrine. Conclusion, Final Question and Answers, Demonstrations, Exam.

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