The Procedure

MUA is normally completed at a hospital or surgical center, and patients are generally required to be accompanied by a friend or family member to drive them home from the procedure. MUA normally does not take too long, but recovery from anesthetic may take some time depending on the patient’s level of sedation. The procedure itself is somewhat similar to a chiropractic visit, however the patient will be put under some level of sedation, and the procedures are meticulously carried out with mobilization and soft tissue work.

MUA-FRP can be administered under general anesthesia, mild sedation, twilight sedation or IV sedation, or by injecting anesthetic solutions into the relevant spine tissues. This will be administered under close monitoring by a board certified anesthesiologist, which is why the procedure must take place in some a surgical center. While sedated, the treatment consists of various spinal and joint manipulations, mobilizations, postural and articular kinesthetic movements and some passive stretches to assist in treating the relevant tissues, joints or conditions. There is normally more than one physician involved in the procedure as medical professions want to ensure wholesome treatment in being provided. This may sometimes involve a pain management doctor who may carry out spinal or joint injections prior to the actual procedure, but this is generally only in severe cases.

Immediately after the procedure, the patient is placed into care for a short time while they recover from the anesthetic. Often patients who undergo this procedure notice an improvement immediately after they regain consciousness or sensation in the area, however, depending on the severity of the condition or injury, the procedure may have to be repeated for up to three consecutive days to ensure adequate manipulation has been undertaken. A further examination will be completed to ensure the patient is ready to leave, and a follow-up with a general practitioner will be highly encouraged.

There are three main manipulative procedures the physician(s) will carry out:

Articulatory Procedures

This refers to manipulative procedures that involve positioning the articulation through a complete anatomic scope of movements and exerting compliant oscillatory rhythmic springing force repetitively towards the direction of curtailment. When this procedure is performed, it focuses on increasing the mobility of the affected tissue through slowly making the restrictive barrier mobile and the caliber of mobility through reestablishing a smooth range of movements that have the necessary feel and elasticity.

Soft Tissue Procedures

These procedures are generally used for fibrous release and assist in the treatment of the peri-articular soft tissue. They normally involve linear stretching, traction and occasionally separation of insertion and muscle origin and lateral stretching. Soft tissue procedures assist in decreasing muscle spasms and help to enhance mobility and locomotion of affected tissues.

Exact Joint Mobilization Techniques

This is a high velocity procedure that assists in making the joints move through its normal anatomical range of motion. It involves providing a controlled impulse into a restricted joint that surpasses the restrictive articular adhesions to allow normalized movement. This is a very specific procedure, it normally aims at treating the articular and intra-articular tissue, increasing the mobility range of the joints, lessening joint restrictions and reducing hyper-tonicity of muscles..this is what chiropractors specialize in and what MUA certified chiropractors set the standard in. It can also assist in stretching shortened fibrous connective tissue of the articulation, the joint capsule, and is often used in conjunction with other techniques.