Acupressure, Tui Na and Sports Massage
Acupressure, sports massage, and traditional Chinese tui na (literally push-grasp) techniques are used to loosen, stretch, and rehabilitate injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Topical lubricants are also used for soothing analgesic effects.
Tui na massage includes manual therapies also known in Western-style Sports Massage, including:
- “Acupressure” on acupuncture trigger points, using fingers, elbows, blunt probes, etc.
- Soft-tissue mobilization (compression, myofascial release, vibration, percussion, cross-fiber and longitudinal friction, deep tissue massage)
- Soft joint mobilizations and glides
- Lymphatic drainage
- Facilitated stretching
Tui na manual therapies are applied to:
- Relax and stretch tendons and muscles
- Reduce trigger points, scar tissue and restrictions and adhesions in muscles, connective tissue, nerve and tendon sheaths and joints
- Restore normal joint lubrication, function, and range
- Relieve neural or vascular compression
- Normalize vascular flow
- Reduce swelling and promote tissue drainage through the lymphatic system
- Alleviate stress and promote general relaxation
Manual therapies are often combined with acupuncture for synergistic benefit.