Acupressure and Massage Therapy

Traditional Chinese Medicine includes a sophisticated system of manual therapies known  as “tui na”   (literally “push-grasp”).  Tui na employs many manual therapies also known in the West, including:

• “acupressure” on acupuncture nodes or trigger points, using digits, elbows, blunt probes, etc.;

• soft-tissue mobilization (compression, myofascial release, vibration, percussion, friction,
  deep tissue massage, etc.);

• joint mobilizations, glides, and traction;

• facilitated stretching.

Manual therapies are applied with particular emphasis on the injured muscle groups, tendons and ligaments, and acupuncture nodal sites and other sensitive areas (trigger points) along the nodal pathway(s) that traverse the affected area(s). Topical lubricants are also used for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Manual therapies are employed to:

• Relax and stretch tendons and muscles;

• Reduce restrictions and adhesions in connective tissue, nerve sheaths and joints;

• Restore normal joint lubrication, function, and range;

• Relieve neural or vascular compression;

• Normalize vascular flow;

• Reduce swelling and promote tissue drainage;

• Reduce pain or tenderness;

• Promote systemic relaxation and stress reduction.

Manual therapies may be applied alone, or to enhance needle therapy. For example, pressure along a nodal pathway proximal or distal to a needling location increases propagated needle sensation, and allows the practitioner to direct the sensation towards the injured site. (Chinese clinical research indicates that outcomes improve when propagated needling sensation reaches affected areas.) Soft-tissue and joint mobilization may also be enhanced by simultaneous needling at distal locations along the affected vessels, thus inducing muscle relaxing propriospinal reflex arcs.

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