DO REFLEX

The recognition of viscerosomatic reflexes is an invaluable tool as part of the complete osteopathic physical examination. It aids in physical diagnosis and provides an organized anatomically based system of logic for the development of the differential diagnosis, as well as options for somatovisceral treatment.

As part of the history and physical examination the clinician strives to establish a logical explanation for the patient’s chief complaint. Viscerosomatic reflexes are a convenient way to corroborate diagnostic suspicions. Consequently, as a diagnosis is formulated it is appropriate to check for the corresponding viscerosomatic findings.

Because of the overlap of reflex viscerosomatic tissue texture change, found in association with pathology of the different viscera, the idenitification of palpatory findings at a given spinal level should lead to the inclusion of all possible visceral contributors into the differential diagnosis list.

Further, when a patient presents with what appears to be a primarily musculoskeletal chief complaint, the recognition of segmentally related viscera as potential etiology leads to additional areas of questioning that might otherwise not be recognized.

The intensity of reflex viscerosomatic tissue texture change can be sequentially monitored to follow the progression of a given disease process.

Areas of viscerosomatic dysfunction can be treated with manipulative procedures to address somatovisceral impact upon visceral pathology.