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Short answer
Visceral osteopathy is a manual approach directed at the organs of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and at the structures that connect them to one another and to the body wall. According to a systematic review, diagnosis by visceral palpation is not reliable and there is no reliable evidence of effectiveness. A patient presenting with abdominal pain should first be examined by a doctor.
What is it?
Visceral osteopathy is a manual approach directed at the organs of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and at the structures that connect them to one another and to the body wall. The method is associated with the name of the French osteopath and physiotherapist Jean-Pierre Barral. Barral has taught visceral manipulation since 1985 and is the author of books on the subject. In the WHO classification, visceral techniques are assigned to the group of combined techniques.
What is it based on?
The approach is based on the mobility of the organs in relation to breathing and body movements, and on the idea that a disturbance of this mobility may affect other parts of the body.
What does the scientific evidence say?
A systematic review of visceral osteopathy has shown that diagnosis by visceral palpation is not reliable and that there is no reliable evidence of effectiveness. A review of osteopathic treatment in irritable bowel syndrome, meanwhile, found only preliminary evidence: the studies are small and the results should be interpreted with caution.
Safety
According to the WHO document, the relevant techniques are contraindicated when acute or undiagnosed abdominal pain, peritonitis, appendicitis or another urgent abdominal condition is suspected. A patient presenting with abdominal pain should first be examined by a doctor.
Place in training
Visceral osteopathy is part of the curriculum of many osteopathy schools. When studying this subject, the student should know not only the anatomy and the techniques but also the limits of the evidence.
Sources
- Barral Institute — about Jean-Pierre Barral barralinstitute.com (opens in a new window)
- World Health Organization (2010). Benchmarks for training in osteopathy. ISBN 978-92-4-159966-5. who.int (opens in a new window)
- Guillaud A. et al. (2018). Reliability of diagnosis and clinical efficacy in visceral osteopathy: a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2098-8 (opens in a new window)
- Müller A. et al. (2014). Osteopathic treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review. J Am Osteopath Assoc. DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2014.098 (opens in a new window)
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace a physician's advice.