What Are We Missing? Visceral Mobility and Functional Performance: Lessons from a Pelvic Health OT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Course Description
Occupational therapy practitioners across practice settings encounter clients whose functional performance is limited by symptoms that do not fully resolve with traditional intervention. Fatigue, chronic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and post-surgical limitations are common, yet the visceral system is rarely part of the clinical conversation. This session explores a meaningful clinical pivot, integrating visceral mobility into occupational therapy to address root causes of persistent functional limitation.
Participants will examine the role of the visceral system within a pressure management model and its influence on function. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the diaphragm, abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and internal organs, and how disruption contributes to pelvic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and post-surgical limitations. This perspective emerged from repeated clinical patterns in my own practice, where individuals did not fully improve with traditional approaches, prompting a shift in clinical reasoning and intervention.
Content is designed for immediate application across outpatient, home health, acute care, and community-based practice. Attendees will leave with a framework for recognizing visceral restriction, introductory assessment and intervention strategies, and practical examples in pelvic health, geriatrics, and post-surgical populations. By expanding the clinical lens, practitioners will strengthen reasoning, broaden intervention strategies, and more fully support participation and quality of life. This session represents a pivotal shift, inviting therapists to amplify awareness, adapt beyond muscle-focused models, and advance practice through integration of the visceral system as a missing link in functional performance.
Speaker
Lisa Loveless, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and pelvic health specialist with 29 years of clinical experience. She is the founder and owner of Next Level Therapy, a private outpatient practice in Lakewood, Ohio, specializing in pelvic health occupational therapy. Her practice focuses on complex pelvic health conditions including pelvic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and post-surgical recovery, integrating manual therapy with functional, occupation-centered care. A trauma-informed practitioner, Lisa combines visceral manipulation, myofascial release, dry needling, and deep core coordination to provide individualized care.
Lisa is also a dedicated educator and mentor. She develops and instructs continuing education courses for rehabilitation professionals, including Visceral Work Made Simple and Pelvic Health for Penis Owners, and serves as Head Educator for the OT Pioneers Hands-On Biopsychosocial Lab. She mentors occupational therapists advancing into pelvic health practice and presents on pelvic health topics for professional organizations, university programs, and community groups. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Allied Medical Professions from The Ohio State University and is an AOTA Approved Provider for Continuing Education and a Mercier Certified Therapist.
Content Level
Intermediate: This level assumes the audience has general familiarity with the literature and professional practice. The focus of the presentation is on increased understanding and application by the participants.
Practice Areas
Aging in Place/Geriatrics; Community-based Practice; Emerging Practice Area; Health and Wellness; Home Health/Telehealth; Rehabilitation