Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)

How is it performed?

MUA is performed under conscious sedation with the consideration of the anesthesiologists. Patients are given anesthesia (conscious sedation) selected by the anesthesiologist that is most appropriate based on their personal medical history. Two properly trained and qualified physicians take the patient through specific and controlled passive stretching techniques. These stretches are intense and the range of motion is taken beyond the point of consciously tolerable pain.

Deep tissue pressure, traction, and muscle stripping are performed, followed by specific joint manipulations. This helps to increase the range of motion of the restricted joints, eliminate the deposited fibrosis within the joints, and stretch the shortened connective tissue within the joint to help restore normal motion. The patient is injected with anti-inflammatory medication, is awakened from anesthesia, and taken to a recovery and monitored.

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Who can benefit from MUA?

Before patients can be considered candidates, they need to receive a consultation with one of our Board Certified Physicians. Some spinal syndromes respond poorly to conservative, conventional care because they do not address the underlying cause. Whether it is a disc injury, old injury to the spine, or headaches, the chronic pain is caused by adhesions and scar tissue that have built up around the spinal joints and within the surrounding muscles.

Patient Evaluation and Screening

Patient selection is one of the most important aspects to ensure the MUA procedure will be a success. Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure. Candidates are selected for MUA after taking a thorough and adequate history, thorough examination, and appropriate diagnostic imaging and laboratory procedures necessary for an accurate diagnosis of the underlying condition.

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