Could your shoulder pain be coming from internal organs? Understanding Viscero-Somatic Reflex

Have you ever experienced pain or tension in your back, neck, or pelvis and wondered if there could be more to it? You’re not alone. At Inner Wellness Osteopathy, we explore the fascinating link between your internal organs and your musculoskeletal system through something called the viscero-somatic reflex.

What is the Viscero-Somatic Reflex?

In simple terms, the viscero-somatic reflex is the connection between your organs (viscera) and your muscles (soma). When an organ experiences stress or dysfunction - due to inflammation, irritation, or illness - this can cause a ripple effect that triggers pain or tension in specific muscles, joints, or regions of your body. The nervous system plays a key role in this reflex by transmitting signals between the organs and muscles ,resulting in what is often called referred pain.

How Does It Work?

Each organ is connected to a specific spinal segment via the autonomic nervous system. When an organ is irritated or inflamed, the spinal nerves that serve both the organ and the muscles around it can become sensitized. This can cause tension, discomfort, or pain in ares seemingly unrelated to the organ itself. The brain sometimes “misreads” the signals, and we feel pain in our muscles or joints instead of the actual source - the organ.

Common Organ Referral Patterns

Here are some examples of how organ dysfunction can manifest as musculoskeletal pain through viscero-somatic reflexes:

• Uterus: Pain may refer to the low back, sacrum, or inner thighs (notice this is where period pain usually is).

• Colon/Large Intestine: May cause discomfort in the lower back or abdominal area.

• Liver: Pain often refers to the right shoulder or mid-back.

• Lung: Can cause discomfort in the neck or upper back.

• Heart: May refer to the left shoulder, arm, or jaw.

• Gall Bladder: Pain might radiate to the right shoulder blade or mid-back.

• Ovary/Testes: Pain may radiate to the lower back, hips, or pelvis.

How Can Osteopathy Help?

At Inner Wellness Osteopathy, we understand that pain or dysfunction in your muscles and joints isn’t always just a “musculoskeletal” issue. Our osteopaths are trained to assess the whole body, including the viscero-somatic connections that may be contributing to your discomfort.

By using gentle, hands-on techniques, we can help:

• Reduce muscle tension associated with organ dysfunction.

• Improve blood flow and lymphatic drainage to both organs and muscles.

• Balance the nervous system to ease discomfort and reduce referred pain.

• Support your body’s natural healing process, promoting overall wellbeing.

  
  

Whether it’s back pain triggered by digestive issues or pelvic discomfort linked to the reproductive system, our team is here to identify the root cause and provide tailored treatment.

Ready to Find Relief?

If you’ve been experiencing unexplained pain or tension that doesn’t seem to be improving, it could be your body’s way of telling you that something deeper is at play.

Our experienced osteopaths are here to help you uncover and address the underlying causes.

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