Tuina

Tuina is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy that involves brush, knead, roll or pressure along the meridians, based on principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Tuina may be administered alone or used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine treatments.

Characteristics of Tuina Massage

Relaxation ***

Therapeutic ****

Intensity: Moderate to Very Strong

Lubrication: no

Undressing: no

Tip: Depends on facility

How to interpret the rating scale

 

Variations of Tuina Techniques

 Rotating manipulation:

A manipulation performed by holding the distal end of the injured limb and rotating it gently

Twisting manipulation

A manipulation of giving an injured limb twists with two palms in the direction opposite each other

Rubbing manipulation

Rubbing the affected part with the ventral aspect of the finger tips or the palm in a circular motion with moderate force and frequency

Kneading manipulation

A manipulation involving pressing and moving to and from or circularly on an affected area with the flat of the thumb, the thenar or the root of the palm

Pushing manipulation

Pushing and squeezing the muscles with the fingers or palms forward, apart or spirally, with force

Qi-concentrated single-finger pushing manipulation

A pushing manipulation performed by using the thumb alone in a swaying movement

Rolling manipulation

A manipulation performed by turning the back of the hand over the patient’s body surface back and forth continuously

Scrubbing manipulation

A manipulation performed by rubbing with the flat of the finger, the thenar, or the palm to and fro over the skin continuously with a high frequency

Shaking manipulation

A manipulation by which the distal end of the affected extremity is held and pulled outwards by the operator and shaken up and down within the limit of movement

Flicking manipulation

A manipulation performed by hitting the affected area with the back of the index fingertip or middle fingertip by flicking against the thumb

Sinew-flicking manipulation

A manipulation performed by repeatedly pulling up the tendon or muscle and immediately releasing it

Pressing manipulation

A manipulation involving pushing steadily in a direction vertical to the body surface

Grasping manipulation

A manipulation performed by lifting and squeezing the affected muscles with the thumb and the index and middle fingers or with the thumb and the other four fingers of one or both of the operator’s hands

Pinching manipulation

A manipulation performed by holding and lifting the soft tissues by using the thumb with the index and middle fingers or the thumb with the other four fingers, and squeezing and pushing forward

Treading manipulation

A manipulation performed by treading on the affected area for reduction, e.g., treading on the back for the reduction of a protruded intervertebral disc

Pulling manipulation

A manipulation of extending or rotating a joint by holding its proximal and distal ends and pulling with force in an opposite or similar direction instantaneously

 Rocking manipulation

A manipulation performed by holding the part of the limb proximal to the joint with one hand and the part distal to the joint with the other hand, and gently rotating the joint from side to side

Back-packing manipulation

A manipulation to reduce a rotruded lumbar intervertebral disc by carrying the patient on the operator’s back while the two are standing back to back

Tapping technique

A manipulation performed by tapping with the tips of fingers held together

 

Reference:

WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region. World Health Organization, 2007