Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation (VM), developed by French osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral in the 1980s, is a gentle treatment technique that addresses various functional and structural imbalances in the body, including issues with the musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic systems. It focuses on organ-specific fascial mobilization, evaluating and treating the motion and suspension dynamics of organs, membranes, fascia, and ligaments. The treatment is extremely gentle and emphasizes tissue mobility and motility, the latter reflecting embryonic development paths.

The Barral Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, offers a VM curriculum, which is closely associated with craniosacral therapy training at the Upledger Institute.

Pediatric VM (birth to age 7) treats a range of conditions such as: reflux, colic, constipation, torticollis, plagiocephaly, allergies, parasites, thoracic injury, neurological issues, developmental delay, dysregulation, and abnormal birth presentations, as well as common (treatable) NICU complications/surgeries: Fundal plication, Gastrostomy, jejunostomy, ileostomy, Diaphragmatic hernia, Abdominal wall defect, Cardiac surgeries (ASD, VSD, patent ductus arteriosus), inguinal hernia, IV scarring, and ureterocele.

Pediatric treatment involves assessing the entire body to identify areas of restriction, treating the baby in a comfortable, secure environment (like in the caregiver’s arms), and focusing on the baby’s regulation and connection with the parent. Treatment is gentle,  and continued only if the baby tolerates it. The principle of “less is more” guides the approach.