Why Use Anesthesia?

When moving the spine, or parts of the body that are extremely painful to manipulate, it is obvious why anesthesia would be extremely important. However, the use of anesthesia has other benefits for the body, the patient and the practitioner.

Muscle Relaxation

Anesthesia allows your muscles to completely relax, meaning your doctor will have the opportunity to stretch and manipulate muscle groups that have become shortened and break adhesions that occur due to scar tissue. After recovering from anesthesia, the golgi tendon reflex – which controls the tightness or relaxation of muscles – is readjusted, meaning your body will feel the new length of the muscle that was manipulated under anesthesia.

Inflamed Nerves

Anesthesia helps to calm nerves that have become inflamed over time as a result of injury or condition. After the procedure, this will help to reduce pain and increase the functionality of the nerves, particularly in procedures involving the spine.

Joint Movement

Under anesthesia, your doctor is able to fully stretch your joints and joint capsules, relaxing or disrupting any adhesions in the area. This will help ensure that the whole joint and joint capsule can move freely and will reduce pain in the area.

Muscle Spasms

Under anesthesia, the muscle spasm cycle is closed. This allows the movement of the spine and the stretching of affected muscles without pain on behalf of the patient.