How Visceral Manipulation can enhance stomach function, improve digestion, and reduce reflux

Digestion is a vital function of your body. Your digestive system is made up of tubes that run from your mouth to your anus. The stomach is an important organ for optimal digestion, and can even cause referred pain to areas like the neck and left shoulder. In this blog post, I’m going to explain why dysfunction in the stomach can have an impact on our digestion and overall health, symptoms that may present with stomach dysfunction, and ways to support your stomach.

First, lets talk about the anatomy and functions of the stomach.

Your stomach is located on the left side of your body. The top part is covered by ribs, and the bottom portion can hang down lower than your belly button, especially after meals. It is a hollow organ with an entrance at the top (where food enters from the esophagus) and an exit at the bottom (where food exits to the duodenum). It is also the widest part of the digestive tube.

Your stomach is supported by ligaments that connect to diaphragm, spleen, large intestine, duodenum, and liver. It also connects to the greater omentum. Because of its anatomy, the stomach can be influenced by almost any abdominal organ, as well as the heart and lungs.

The stomach has muscular walls and secretes acid and enzymes, which start breaking down food both mechanically and chemically. The cells in the stomach lining renew quickly so that the lining is not dissolved, and you have a new lining every three days. Food is usually in the stomach for up to 3 hours depending on what was eaten.

What might cause stomach issues?

Possible causes of stomach issues include:

• Poor abdominal muscle strength/tone

• Poor posture

• Abdominal surgeries and scars

• Endometriosis

• Inflammation

• Reduced lymphatic function

• Allergies

• Pregnancy and childbirth

• Chemicals

• Medications

• Trauma

What are symptoms associated with stomach dysfunction?

Some symptoms associated with stomach issues that may improve with visceral manipulation include:

• Hiatal hernias or pain over the lower ribs with breathing

• Stomach ptosis (elongated stomach)

• Stomach ulcers

• Left sided headaches

• Pain over your stomach area

• Left shoulder, neck, low back, or mid back pain

• Left sinus problems

• Difficulty taking a deep inhale

• Slow digestion

• Tiredness

• Excessive belching

• Throwing up or reflux

• Anemia

Ways to support your stomach

Engaging in regular physical exercise, especially exercises that are fatiguing (like running, long walks, and cycling) can help support your stomach health. Also practicing tai-chi, yoga, and other relaxation techniques can be helpful. Eating warm foods, chewing food thoroughly, reducing your intake of sugar and fatty-foods, and being mindful of medications that may affect your stomach can also be helpful.

And of course I’m going to recommend visceral manipulation to support your stomach. The goal of treatment is to make sure your stomach can slide and glide against the other tissues around it, and for your stomach to be able to move within itself to create the mechanical action to break down food. Treating the abdominal sphincters alongside the stomach is also important to prevent reflux and improve digestion.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of visceral manipulation, check out my Organ Mobilization Masterclass here. If you are local to the Memphis area and are ready to schedule your appointment, you can do so here.

References:
A Pathway to Health: How Visceral Manipulation can Help You by Alison Harvey

Blog post written by Dr. Alexis Hutchison, PT, DPT, OCS, PCES