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Spinal manipulation is an ancient healing art practiced
by a wide variety of cultures. The earliest know recorded reference
to spinal manipulation is found in a Chinese document dating
to approximately 2700 BC. |
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pain sufferers across the nation have discovered tremendous
health benefits that can be restored by a procedure known as
Manipulation Under Anesthesia, or M.U.A. |
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M.U.A. is exactly what it sounds like. After medical
clearance, the patient is lightly anesthetized to achieve total
relaxation, then adjustments and stretching movements which
would normally be too painful to even consider are easily, painlessly
and quickly accomplished. |
| Occasionally,
certain spinal conditions fail to respond sufficiently to conventional
care of doctors, physical therapists or even chiropractic doctors.
Some of the impediments to in-office adjustment of the spine
that may require the aid of an anesthetic are: |
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Buildup
of scar tissue (adhesions) both in and around the spinal
joints commonly caused by multiple injuries or failed
back surgery. |
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Chronic
muscle spasm. |
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Super-sensitivity
of injured areas making the patient unable to cooperate
for effective treatment. |
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Persistent
shortening of muscles, ligaments and M.U.A.
has also been shown to be effective in relieving pain
in cases of damaged intervertebral discs. Some disc injuries
are serious enough to require surgery, but they are relatively
infrequent. |
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| How
do you know if you need M.U.A.? Spinal manipulation is needed
when joints in the verbebral column become locked and immovable.
It is the chiropractors' responsibility to restore the function
to previously movable joints. |
| After
completion of a thorough examination, including x-ray and other
diagnostic procedures, a doctor may determine that spinal adjustments
are necessary. If, after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, your condition
does not improve, your doctor may determine that M.U.A. would
most likely resolve your condition. |
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| How
does anesthesia help the manipulation? When movement of
the spine is extremely and intolerably painful, the benefit
of being unconscious is obvious, but the anesthesia performs
other important functions, such as: |
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Shuts
off the muscle spasm cycle to allow spinal movement. |
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Sedates
the pain perceiving nerves that have been irritated due
to the dysfunctional spine. |
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Allows
complete muscle relaxation to allow the doctor to stretch
shortened muscle groups and to break adhesions caused
by scar tissue. |
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