Manipulation under anesthesia uses a combination of specific short lever manipulations, passive stretches and specific maneuvers in order to break up fibrous adhesions and scar tissue around the spine and surrounding tissue.

The treatment is performed in a hospital or surgery center by licensed physicians with specialized training and certification specifically for the procedure. A team approach is required to have a safe and successful outcome.

The team includes the anesthesiologist, the primary chiropractor who performs the manipulation (Chief Surgeon), and the first assistant, also a physician/chiropractor certified in manipulation under anesthesia.

The procedure usually lasts less than 15 minutes and is repeated over 2 or 3 consecutive days. Following the series of MUA, the patient must be willing to follow strict in-office follow-up care and self-help exercise to maintain the gains received through the procedure.

Certain neck, mid back, low back or other spinal conditions may respond poorly to conventional care. This may be the result of past or present injury where adhesions and scar tissue have built up around spinal joints and within the surrounding muscles, causing chronic pain.

Patients often undergo various treatments, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, epidural injections, back surgery, or other treatments that do not address fibrous adhesions. Some patients feel temporarily better with these treatments, but their pain often returns.

In general, patients selected for manipulation under anesthesia are those who have received conservative care for six to eight weeks. If limited or no improvements in symptoms or objective findings have occurred, then manipulation under anesthesia may be an appropriate alternative.

Conditions in which we have had excellent results include: Failed back surgery, Fibrous adhesion buildup, Chronic disc problems, Herniated disc without fragmentation, Chronic myofascitis, Intractable pain from neuromusculoskeletal conditions, Torticollis, Fibromyalgia, and Frozen Shoulder Syndrome.

Prior to treatment, protocols of diagnostic testing should document the nature of the diagnosis, support the need for treatment and eliminate questions of psychosocial factors that can influence pain responses. In addition to X-ray, MRI scan or CT scan, a musculoskeletal sonogram or nerve conduction velocity test may be ordered.

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), is a non-invasive procedure offered for acute and chronic conditions, including: neck pain, back pain, joint pain, muscle spasm, shortened muscles, fibrous adhesions and long term pain. It is used to treat pain arising from the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as the sacroiliac and pelvic regions.

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