Visceral Manipulation In Pediatrics

As we already know, visceral manipulation is organ specific fascial mobilization. In other words, our viscera or organs are treated specifically in relation to their associated structures and surrounding connective tissue. In order to maintain good health in the body the viscera must move in harmony with the other structures in the body. If this does not happen, the presence of organ restrictions can create fixed points of tension in our system around which the body now needs to move. This paves the way for disease and dysfunction.

A visceral restriction is just like a myofascial restriction, except that it is within the organ or in the connective tissue outside of the organ. A visceral restriction develops from an inflammatory process, in which an exudate is formed. This exudate thickens and becomes a harder, denser, drier area. Restrictions are caused by infection, birth trauma, in-utero malpositioning, falls, abnormal neural activity, medications and toxicity.

The practitioner can determine the area of greatest restriction by “listening”. “General listening” indicates the site of the greatest tension in the body at that time while with local listening, the practitioner’s hand is attracted more specifically to the level of the restriction. Next, the practitioner identifies by palpation the specific structure that is involved, then embarks on the release that the body needs.

For instance, if a baby has reflux, with “general listening”, the listening goes to the upper stomach. “Local listening” will help identify if the restriction is between the stomach and liver or the stomach and diaphragm (where the esophagus goes through the diaphragm), or perhaps between the esophagus and pleura of the lung.This specific area needs to be treated. This is the basic technique in all “visceral manipulation” sessions.

Treatment

When treating a baby or child with visceral manipulation, the therapist contacts the organ and structure related to that organ, and treats in the direction of ease. For example, if the baby with reflux has tension between the stomach and liver,the therapist contacts the lesser curvature of the stomach with one hand, the left lobe of the liver with the other hand. By contacting these two organs, the organs will start a “listening”, a movement into the direction of ease. In this case, the stomach and liver will pull towards each other until a tissue release is palpated. A release feels like a softening of the tissue. The restriction is freed so that the stomach and liver slide and glide on each other.

After the area is treated, the next step is to re-listen to the body. Very often the listening takes you to the left occipitomastoid suture – the suture between the temporal and occipital bones. Now if we look at our anatomy, we see that the vagus nerve exits in the jugular foramen between these two bones. We may even feel a “line of tension” between the occipitomastoid suture and the upper stomach. This would make sense anatomically because of the pathway of the esophagus and vagus nerve as they both travel through the thorax. Thus, when we “line up the tension”, or engage the two structures between our hands so that we can feel a specific tension, we may release these structures and thus help the child with their symptom of reflux.

The video below talks about the various applications of visceral manipulation in children.

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Manipulative Therapies

Manipulative therapies can be defined as methods of resetting a particular body part in order to precipitate a healing response in that body. Quite often the treatment is applied at a distance away from the actual symptoms, to obtain satisfactory results.

There are several types of manipulative therapies, among which most importantly are: osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, articular manipulation, neuromeningeal manipulation, chiropractic, massage and reflexology, to name a few.Every method described below has a video following it to present it in greater detail.

Osteopathy is a therapy that uses manipulation on the whole body in order to reduce discomfort, improve muscle performance, joint movement and restore the person to full health, by working on the muscles, ligaments and skeleton.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft touch generally about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

Visceral manipulation

is a gentle hands-on therapy that works through the body’s visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate these abnormal points of tension throughout the body. At optimal health, the relationship between the organs (viscera) and structures of the body (muscles, membranes, fasciae and bones) remains stable despite the body’s endless varieties of motion. But when one organ can’t move in harmony with its surrounding viscera due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against all the body’s organs and structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. That chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction.

Articular manipulation, another part to the manipulative therapies curriculum, works on the premise that different layers of the body starting right from the deepest layer of bone to the muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and nerves, all working together to create an interdependence and unity of the body’s structure. These layers interact with the central nervous system through neural components and motor components. Specific emotions with specific personalities also have an effect on the CNS which affects all these layers. Keeping a balance in these different layers maintains joint pressure. The pressure inside a joint is important. In a healthy joint exists a negative pressure,. All the joint structures stick together to create a sucking effect inside the joint, a kind of “togertherness”. When dysfunctional the negative pressure decreases (becomes more positive pressure) which destroys the cartilage, and the joint falls apart.

Neuromingeal manipulation is a precise treatment of nerves in the body that are causing pain. This is achieved by rolling or gliding movements of the said nerve combined with movement of the extremities or joints in order to relieve any loss of mobility or tightness the nerve  may have.

Chiropractic is a therapy which involves treatment on the musculoskeletal system with paticular emphasis on the spine and nervous system. it can help shoulder and low back pain and help relieve asthma,constipation and digestive problems.

Massage, another modality in the manipulative therapies family is a very pleasant therapy that utilizes stroking, kneading and other techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. It is ideal for stress relief, relaxation and as a remedial treatment for physical and emotional problems.

Reflexology falls into the manipulative therapies category mainly for its ability to relieve stress and decrease digestive problems. The technique involves applying pressure to points on the feet and sometimes the hands. therapists believe that they can stimulate energy by reflex action to a related muscle or organ and encourage healing.

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Visceral Manipulation

The structural integrity of the body and its function are always compromised when there are abnormal tensions in connective tissue. Visceral Manipulation focuses on locating and resolving abnormal tension of connective tissue that links the organs of the body. Correcting these imbalances also release serotonin and can help alleviate chronic irritation and stress, which sometimes is the cause of “dis-ease”.

Strains in the connective tissue of the viscera can result from surgical scars, adhesions, illness, posture or injury. Tension patterns form through the fascial network deep within the body, creating symtoms, sometimes far from their sources for which the body will have to compensate. Thus, viscerospasm, displacement and adhesions can all cause our organs to work inefficiently creating chronic irritation and abnormal points of tension. The main purpose of visceral manipulation is to reinstate the normal mobility and motion in the body’s organs.

Visceral manipulation assists in correcting imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic dysfunction. It evaluates and treats the dynamics of motion and suspension in relation to organs, membranes, fascia and ligaments. Visceral manipulation increases proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby revitalizing a person and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture.

Evaluation and treatment of a patient with visceral manipulation methods requires assessment of the structural relationships between the viscera, and their ligamentous or fascial attachments to the musculoskeletal system.

The video below sums what visceral manipulation is about.

Follow  us for more on various treatment modalities and applications of “visceral manipulation”.

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A Work Out For Glutes

A workout for glutes is next in our series of body sculpting exercises. Staying with us on these series will assist in a cost saving collection of easy but effective workout routines that you can do from the comfort of your home. As a recap: Some  of the benefits of workout for glutes and body sculpting exercises include:

  • Increased metabolism and fat loss by allowing fat  and calorie burn 24-hours a day, because included in body sculpting is a weight loss program
  • Muscle re-shaping and toning and lean muscle increase
  • Increased bone density and reduced osteoporosis, because of the weighted component of the exercises, yet joint impact is low
  • Cardiovascular conditioning
  • Increased flexibility, strength &
  • Greater self-esteem and confidence

Of course, for best results, in your work out for glutes, commit to an eating program that consists of a nutritious weight loss diet and a cardio routine(see below) that cranks up your metabolism, so that you lose weight that comes off your entire body. Learn how to count calories while exercising to know how much you need to burn to lose weight. They’re inseparable.

Shoulder Sculpting Exercises for Sharper Shoulders

To motivate you to start “shoulder sculpting”, let me share with you what you’ll benefit from the shoulder exercises:

  • Strong shoulder sculpting give striking visual effect as a result of graceful lines and indent forms on your upper arms and torso  and being that shoulders don’t carry a lot of fat you can see quick results of your workout.
  • The second motivator – when your shoulders are strengthened, it’s easier for you to carry out your daily tasks and strong shoulders lower your risk of injury as well.

Regular shoulder sculpting exercises is all that it takes. Below is a set of videos that will show you a routine shoulder sculpting exercises that will strengthen your shoulder muscles.

  • Start with your feet hip-distance apart, both arms resting at your sides and holding a 3 lb to 5 lb weight in both your hands. Distribute your weight onto both equally
  • Exhale and begin your exercises in keeping with the videos below. Pause and lower arms back down by your side. Repeat for 10 to 12 repetitions. Complete 2 to 3 sets.
  • They include: triceps curls, deltoid shapers and biceps curls.

Triceps Curl

Deltoid Shapers

Biceps Curls

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The Flow of Lymph

The flow of lymph belongs to the circulatory apparatus wherein one direction allows for the blood to leave the heart (the arterial system) and two others allow for it to return( the venous and lymphatic system). Therefore the lymphatic system runs parallel to the “red” blood system.

Lymph is a fluid that is formed by part of the constituents of blood filtering out of the blood capillaries into the spaces between each cell (the interstitium). In order to return to the heart, the flow of lymph from the interstitial spaces are reabsorbed  into the feather-fine lymphagions into the lymphatic capillaries into the pre-collectors to the collectors, nodes, ducts and trunks. The cysterna chili (at T12) and thoracic duct (crosses the midline at T4-T6) represent the terminal  lymphatic pathways that eventually join the major venous circulation just before reaching the heart. As in any active “waterway”, the flow of lymph is directed by pumps and valves to prevent a backflow. This is mediated by contracting muscle fibers in the lymphangions at the pulse rate of 5-8/minute at rest. This rate increases during excercise. These lymphangions consist of 2-3 layers of spiral muscle and  one way valves. They producing peristaltic waves of contraction mediated by the autonomic nervous system. Stimuating these lymphangions can increase the flow of lymph back to heart through the lymphatic system by some twenty to thirty times. This forms the basis of lymphatic drainage wherein a mechanical compressive force is applied to increase the amount of lymph entering the lymphangions which are then subjected to a stretch and continued external compression to increase the volume of flow of lymph into the lymphatic system.

The lymphatic circulation is a low presure system moving with a slow rhythm and low velocity. Lymphatics are present everywhere in the body except in tissues without blood vascularization viz.: the epithelium ,cartilage and the lens and cornea of the eye. And certain tissues possessing vascularization viz.: the placenta, the labyrinth of the inner ear and central nervous system. Exceptions to these are the dura and pia mater, the pituitary capsule, the orbit of the eye, the nasal mucosa and the middle ear.

Lymph drainage is a very useful adjunct to manual therapy in order to:

  1. Reroute the flow of lymph in primary and secondary edemas in the skin, mucosa,muscles,viscera, joints, cranial sutures, periosteum, chambers of the eyes, cochlea, etc. increase of the rate of the flow of lymph because increasing lymphatic flow improves the filtering and removal of fluid, inflammatory mediators, and waste products from interstitial space.
  2. Drain toxins inorder to enhance tissue regeneration e.g. scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, fractures or surgery.
  3. Stimulation of the immune system
  4. Stimulation of the parasympathetic system
  5. Enhance/correct the functioning of the nervous system, the digestive system, the urogenital system, the respiratory system and in dental and metabolic disorders, gynecology, dermatology,ophthalmology, ENT and orthopedic and osteopathic conditions
  6. Reduce pain and muscle spasm.

There are several contraindications as well, mainly including the following:

  1. Acute infectious  and inflammatory illnesses
  2. Serious circulatory problems e.g. phlebitis, venous obstruction
  3. Cardiac issues e.g. angina, CCF
  4. Hemorrhage except in the case of a hematoma
  5. Absence of urination
  6. Active cancer or an undiagnosed “lump”

For maximum results the following points are to be observed:

  1. Hand pressure should be optimal to prevent lymphangion collapse. This averages approximately 8oz./sq.inch
  2. Frequency and rhythm of hand motion. This is typically one full maneuver every one to four seconds and can be repeated 8-16 times per area for maximum effectiveness till you feel you have efficiently moved the fluid.
  3. Direction of the flow of lymph is towards the heart

In general, once thixotropy ( liquefaction of the jelly-like constituents of the connective tissue) occurs at the beginning of a session, wait for the lymph to move your hand at the right time with the right frquency and in the right direction of the flow of lymph.

Body Sculpting Exercises

Body sculpting exercises are non-aerobic, muscle-toning  routines with the focus on core strength, using well toned abdominals as the cornerstone for shaping, strengthening and nurturing your body. You don’t just look great, you also feel great with loads of self esteem and confidence. Your body does not just profit from increased tone and strength, it also benefits from the increase in serotonin and endorphins that make you feel good mentally. Studies have shown that body sculpting exercises are not only a shaping workout for your body, but a cardiovascular workout for your heart and a strengthening workout for your bones as well.

Some  of the benefits of body sculpting exercises include:

  • Increased metabolism and fat loss by allowing fat  and calorie burn 24-hours a day, because included in body sculpting is a weight loss program
  • Muscle re-shaping and toning and lean muscle increase
  • Increased bone density and reduced osteoporosis, because of the weighted component of the exercises, yet joint impact is low
  • Cardiovascular conditioning
  • Increased flexibility, strength &
  • Greater self-esteem and confidence

As the name suggests, sculpting means chiseling into shape. This is done by burning away fat and introducing shapeliness to produce the figure you desire. Body sculpting exercises are designed to shape and tone the body without building muscular size or bulk.  In order to do so, sculpting uses weight bars, exercise bands, or dumbbells, or a combination of these gadgets. Load generally is limited to 3-5-7 pounds of weight. You perform traditional weight-training moves and also include free form exercise to the assist the burn and shaping. Prepare yourself for muscle soreness the day or two after your workout. Best of all the results are quick and this a safe form of exercising for all ages, because you can do it according to your pace and capacity. However, as in any physical fitness program, we recommend that you consult with your physician before starting this or any other exercise program.

Follow our blogs for more body sculpting ideas to increase the scope of what “body sculpting exercises” can do for you.

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Transversus Abdominis Exercises

Transversus abdominis exercises are very important in maintaining your overall health because weak transversus abdominis muscles can manifest as:

  • Inability to sit up without arching your back thus inviting back pain
  • Decreased breathing capacity
  • Incontinence of urine
  • Medial knee joint pain
  • Groin pain

The video below describes a method to activate the nerve and lymph supply that lies on the inner side of your thigh in order to “clean” out the blocked “functional pathways” for this muscle. Of course this is best done by a trained body worker, but can easily be replicated as shown below even at home using the help of another member of your household. Your effectiveness in treatment would lie in massaging the inner side of the thigh, working from the inner knee up towards the groin, with the flat of your palms to initiate proper drainage of stagnant fluid from lack of proper transversus abdominis muscle exercises.

Transversus abdominis exercises target the muscle group that saran wraps your midriff. This is a deep muscle and extends from its attachment to the base of your ribcage to the top of your pelvic bowl, very much like a corset. No wonder it is sometimes referred to as our “natural weight lifting belt”.

Easy transversus abdominis exercises include:

  • Tummy tucks: Here you suck in your stomach as if you want to touch belly button to your spine. This can be done 24/7 all through the day without designating any specific time of day for “exercising”.
  • Deep breathing: Breathe out with a tummy tuck. Hold for 30 seconds. Breathe in on the relaxation. This will improve your breathing capacity.
  • Lifting a weight overhead: You can start with 5 pounds. Lift and hold the weight slightly behind you for about 30 seconds to start with. Slowly increase to 1-2 minutes. Repeat 5 times. Walking with the overhead weight further enhances the efficacy of this exercise.
  • Planks: These are done by staying in a lifted push-up position. Start by getting onto your stomach. Push up on your hands till your elbows are straight and only your palms and toes contact the floor. Your hands are under your shoulders and your feet are hip-width apart. Engage your abdominals and keep your back flat. Simply hold this position for 30. Slowly increase to 1-2 minutes. Repeat 5 times. Alternating by lifting one leg at a time further enhances the efficacy of this exercise.
  • Pelvic Tilts: These are easy transversus abdominis exercises if you are deconditioned or pregnant. Sit on a chair. Push your lower back flat against back of the chair and hold for 30 seconds. Release and allow your lower back to relax. Do 10 repetitions.

Only good can come from these exercises. Serotonin or the “feel good” hormone is released. Your stomach gets flatter. Your breathing capacity improves. Low back and groin pain disappear and urinary incontinence stops. All these great benefits come from doing your “transversus abdominis exercises”.

Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Treatment  for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) aims at reducing the symptoms of winter depression or the winter blues. This is a mood disorder that affects some people when daylight hours are shorter — November to March. Connections between human mood, as well as energy levels, and the seasons are well documented, even in healthy individuals.

These normally mentally healthy individuals experience depressive symptoms in the winter, including:

  1. Anxiety, hopelessness and depression
  2. Loss of energy/interest in normal activities
  3. Oversleeping
  4. Appetite changes, especially a craving for high-carbohydrate foods
  5. Weight gain
  6. Difficulty concentrating and processing information
  7. Social withdrawal
  8. Potential risk of suicide

Many reasons have been postulated:

  1. During the winter, many people don’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight. The decreased sunlight may reduce the efficacy of the brain, retarding the conversion of serotonin into N-acetylserotonin which is a mood enhancer.
  2. Another theory is that the cause of seasonal affective disorder may be related to excess melatonin, a sleep enhancer, which is produced in dim light and darkness by the pineal gland.
  3. The body’s circadian rhythm is disturbed from shorter daylight hours.

There is more than one treatment for seasonal affective disorder including:

  1. Light therapy involves the use of a specialized light as a substitute for sunlight. Patients are exposed to the light for a specified time. This exposure can cause a change in chemicals in the brain that are linked to mood.
  2. Anti-depressants prescription or over-the-counter medications  or vitamin-D supplements up to 1,000 to 2,000 IU a day.
  3. Some individuals need a combination of light therapy, medication, and psychotherapy.
  4. Daily exercise has been shown to be helpful, particularly when done outdoors.
  5. For those who tend to crave sweets during the winter, eating a balanced diet may help one’s mood. Conversely, as the mood improves, craving for sweets may abate.
  6. A few sessions of Healing Dynamics

Healing Dynamics creates physical and emotional balance in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder along with complete structural rebalancing to take you to your full potential. This holistic approach is a synthesis of several anatomically directed healing techniques, resulting in complete physical and emotional healing. This reinstates every ‘body’ to the highest form of one’s true self. Your transformation occurs via natural healing of the body systems, through correction, realignment and reeducation.

Treatment for these sometimes disabling conditions is offered with Craniosacral Therapy (see video below), Somato Emotional Release and Lymph Drainage Therapy in combination, in order to increase the efficacy of Serotonin conversion in the brain. These methods have been clinically proven to be effective in establishing physical and emotional harmony in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.

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Diagnosing ADHD Using Healing Dynamics To Resolve Motor Control Disorders In Children

Diagnosing ADHD is clearly the preliminary step to its treatment. Yet vice versa, an effective yet specific treatment can help in confirming and diagnosing ADHD. Researchers in two separate studies have concluded that hyperactivity in the brain in children with ADHD is causative in an inability of these children to control impulsive hand movements. A study of mirror hand movements on children with ADHD showed that testing the non-dominant hand (successively tapping each finger of that hand to the thumb) produced twice as many mirrored hand movements in the other hand during the test. This was four times more predominant in boys with ADHD than boys without the condition. “The findings reveal that even at an unconscious level, these children are struggling with controlling and inhibiting unwanted actions and behavior,” researcher Stewart Mostofsky, MD, of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, says in a news release. Besides, on motor development tests, children with ADHD also scored nearly 60% worse.

Diagnosing ADHD will soon be based on clear and specific clinical symptoms rather than being labeled as spectrum disorder.  The following three symptoms are specifically present in ADHD:

  • Mirrored hand movements
  • Delayed motor milestones.
  • Tight cranial sutures.

Dr. John Upledger, DO, of the Upledger Institute in Florida discovered that the craniums of these children are very tight with little or no movement at the sutures. This is especially so for the temporal bone. Releasing this bone on both sides of the cranium at its sutural link to the sphenoid in front, the parietal bone above and the occiput behind, is all that it takes to set free the cranial vault in order to decrease the pressure on the internal milieu of the brain. This has such a powerful effect, that these children have even been able to integrate into normal classrooms.The method described above is known as craniosacral therapy. Along with this using techniques to teach sensory integration, more or less completes the circle of healing. There is also lymph drainage therapy that offers relief through drainage of the dura, a tissue that completely encases the brain. This helps in decongesting the brain and brings relief from decreased pressure. A synthesis of all these techniques is what Healing Dynamics represents and therefore helps to resolve problems with motor control to decrease ADHD severity in children.

By definition a test is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker’s skill, knowledge or physical fitness, or classification in a topic or topics. A performance test is an assessment that requires an examinee to actually perform a measurable task or activity or produce a predictable response to the experience offered by the examiner. Thus Healing Dynamics is helpful in diagnosing ADHD, because the clinical response and results have predictability. Since “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, the very fact that predictable results are obtained by techniques used in Healing Dynamics, confirms that this is a powerful tool in diagnosing ADHD.