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Visceral Treatment

A number of the physiotherapists at CSPC Leeds have done courses to learn how to assess and treat the visceral system. These are specialist courses, developed for physiotherapists, which are based on using manual therapy to improve movement and function in this very complex and important area.

What is viscera?

Viscera is the term applied to the internal organs of the body, for example, the lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, bladder, intestines etc. All organs are richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels and have vital functions to keep us healthy. Although we are rarely aware of what is happening on the inside with our organs, it is an area often forgotten about as a cause of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Our organs need to move, so that we can stretch and breathe, but like any part of our body, our viscera can become less mobile (think about how your stomach feels when you are ill) and this can affect how we move our bodies.

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Why Might I Have Issues With This Area?

It is possible for the organs to show reduced movement from normal after trauma, for example, car crashes, falls off bikes, and sporting injuries. This can also be the case when people have been ill, or are systemically unwell, for example, with chronic fatigue, cystic fibrosis, or various gut issues. The viscera, particularly the gut, can go into spasm with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation or other bowel disorders.

Operations – i.e., to remove the appendix, or a Caesarean – result in scar tissue formation which is part of the normal healing process. It is possible for the scarring to bind to the tissues and other organs around it, which can cause pain, and dysfunctional movement. In particularly bad cases, it is possible for the scar to become so tight and tethered that posture is affected.

When the organs don’t move optimally, it can stop the body moving well, which can then cause pain. It can also cause irritation of the nerves to certain areas, resulting in referred pain elsewhere, via the nervous system.

What Are Indications For Treatment?

Indications for treatment are musculoskeletal pain following trauma or surgery, chronic musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, period pain, endometriosis and bladder issues etc. A full assessment would be carried out by the physiotherapist and would be taken into consideration along with your medical history. We have found visceral treatment to be very effective, reducing pain, and improving function throughout the whole body. Visceral techniques are very gentle and should only be carried out by a practitioner who has been trained to do them. This can help to improve the movement in the musculoskeletal system, and reduce pain.

It can be useful when other more mainstream techniques have not worked, and if visceral dysfunction is the root cause of your pain, then it is important to address this, to help achieve lasting results. We use visceral treatment as an adjunct to other techniques that we use.

MEET THE TEAM

Constantly challenging ourselves to be the best

We are dedicated to continually training, challenging and developing ourselves to ensure we are at the leading edge of our profession. The best practices are constantly evolving and Alison leads the internal training at the clinic, working with the team, in small groups and individually ensuring that all staff provide the same high standards of care. All members of CSPC staff also attend regular external training. Many of these courses are run at the clinic with external educators to further expand our knowledge and experience.

Alison Rose

Clinic Director | Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Jenny Birch

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Damian Buck

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Carl Clifford

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Wesley Davidson

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Louisa Edmonston

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Graeme Everard

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Lucy Gledhill

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Carol Hegarty

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Claire Merrett

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Candice Milner

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Neil Smitherman

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

John Swain

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Vikki Mills

Physiotherapist MCSP HCPC

Julianna Richardson

Soft Tissue Therapist

Ian Mitchell

Soft Tissue Therapist

Hannah Watkinson

BSc (Hons) Podiatry, MCHS, HPC registered

Cara Sloss

Clinical and Sports Dietitian, RD SENr
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We are located in Weetwood, Leeds

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PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
Over the years I have worked with a number of the physios at CSPC, I have found them to be up to date with their thinking and treatments, willing to share their knowledge with one and other and clients. I always recommend CSPC to friends and clients. They have helped hold body and soul together, thank you.

I am absolutely delighted with the shockwave treatment I have received at CSPC physiotherapy Clinic and the results it has produced. Each session has measurably reduced the size of my bursitis to the point it has almost gone, with corresponding improvement in my range of movement and comfort in the affected area. It has also ameliorated calcification in my shoulder. A great big thank you to Alison and Julianna for your help!

I cannot believe how well I feel. Four years ago, I felt consigned to the ‘rust pile’, today I feel ‘shiny’ and ready for the next challenge. CSPC can seriously alter your way of life …for the better.

Within the one hour appointment I received hands on treatment that relieved most of my pain and by the evening I was breathing and moving pain free. By the following morning I was back to ‘full dad duties’ much to the surprise of my partner, who with seeing how quickly I had recovered, started to think I’d made it all up to have a good rest!

After a long car journey to Leeds, I arrived with some discomfort in my upper back that worsened over the next day to the point that I could hardly breathe or move without feeling excruciating pain.

I’d done a gym session a week or so previously and had felt some discomfort in my back but rested and thought nothing of it. A long car journey combined with caring for two young children resulted in me having excruciating back pain and if it wasn’t for getting an emergency appointment at CSPC physiotherapy clinic I would not have made it home and probably checked myself into A&E!

Within the one hour appointment I received hands on treatment that relieved most of my pain and by the evening I was breathing and moving pain free. By the following morning I was back to ‘full dad duties’ much to the surprise of my partner, who with seeing how quickly I had recovered, started to think I’d made it all up to have a good rest!
Thanks CSPC physiotherapy for getting me back to my best – super quickly!

JACK

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