It’s all connected

I have always taken a holistic approach when looking at the body.  Here is the definition for holistic out of the oxford dictionary:

 “characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole”.

For me and my practice this works well as I know, believe and have experienced how every part of the body is interconnected, and how it comes together to create the whole picture.  So when we work together and you ask if your foot pain could be related to your low back pain, the answer is YES, it is most definitely related.  

Often, at least in western culture, we learn about the body segmentally.  For example: the digestive tract, or the reproductive tract, or the musculoskeletal system, and it's not often portrayed that all of these systems are connected in one way or another.  But if you just think about the abdomen, or your torso, all of these systems have a role in just this one area of the body.  And then the musculoskeletal system branches out through the entire body, so why wouldn’t what's going on in your abdomen make a difference to what is happening at your foot,  or shoulder, or vice versa?

So when looking at the body “holistically” you are looking at the WHOLE being, and its interconnected-ness throughout the whole.  But here I want to more specifically look at the abdomen and your organs.  Your organs are in specific areas of your torso, in specific cavities if you will, and they are held by varying structures.  These structures are often ligaments and fascia that hold the organs in their place.  And they would obviously connect into the surrounding structures of your abdomen in order to hold the organs in place. Some of the other structures of the abdomen we might know as the abdominal muscles, or the hip flexors, or the low back muscles, the pelvic floor, the ribs, pelvis, and spine. One of the ways I continue to learn and educate myself with this holistic approach is through abdominal massage, and specifically Visceral Manipulation.  This comprises specific techniques where I am intending to mobilize these tissues (ligaments and fascia) that surround the organs so that it can move with more freedom and ease.  

Just like any other area of the body, when muscles and tissues get stuck or locked down they don't allow the movement or range needed to function well. And this happens in your organs too.  If you wrapped your hand in plastic wrap, you would have a challenging time writing or typing, the same principle can apply here as the fascia and ligaments surround the organs, and if there isn’t enough space and room the dysfunction can occur. Symptoms that can be caused, and helped through visceral manipulation include (but are not limited to):

• Back pain

• Shoulder pain

• Neck pain

• Decreased shoulder or neck range of motion

• Acid reflux

• Constipation

• Bloating

• Gas/ flatulence

• Kidney stones

• Gallbladder dysfunction

• Liver dysfunction

• Slow digestion

• Inflammation 

And throughout the body there continues to be an unlimited amount of connections.  The fascial and other supportive connective tissues are all interconnected weaving between every muscle cell, grouping, organ, and system, to help support the movements and functions of the ENTIRE body. 

So when looking at pain or a dysfunction in one area, yes that must be addressed but often it is more crucial to also look elsewhere.  To critically think, understand, and address who one thing is connected to another and target the whole system, and in turn the whole body, otherwise that issue or problem or dysfunction will likely continue to occur.