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Objective To explore the application effect of copper needle scraping combined with massage in patients with upper hyperactivity of liver yang type hypertension. Methods A total of 124 patients with upper hyperactivity of liver yang type hypertension who received treatment at Shenzhen Longhua District People's Hospital from August 2020 to August 2022 were selected. All patients were randomly assigned to a control group and an observation group in a 1:1 ratio, with 62 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received routine intervention, while the patients in the observation group received early copper needle scraping combined with massage care based on the control group's method. The blood pressure level, TCM clinical symptom score, blood lipid level, sleep quality, and TCM symptom efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results After one month of intervention, the comparison of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, TCM clinical symptom score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and triglyceride, total cholesterol level between the two groups showed that the observation group was relatively lower (all P < 0. 05), and both groups improved compared to before intervention (all P < 0. 05). The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The combination of copper needle scraping and massage has a definite therapeutic effect on patients with upper hyperactivity of liver yang type hypertension, which can reduce blood pressure and blood lipid levels, and improve clinical symptoms and sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herniation of the nucleus pulposus caused by disc degeneration and other reasons can cause low back pain and disability. In China, traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) and traditional Chinese massage (TCM) are widely used to improve symptoms of pain and disability in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The safety and efficacy of combination therapy have not been studied. Objectives: To assess the effect of traditional Chinese exercise combined with massage vs. traditional Chinese massage alone on pain, disability, lumbar mobility and gait performance in patients with LDH. Methods: Multi-center, randomized clinical trial conducted at 4 hospitals in China and enrolling 272 patients with LDH. Participants were randomly assigned to TCEs plus TCM group or TCM alone group. The combined therapy group received 18 Tai Chi training sessions (30-min sessions 3 times a week) and regular TCM treatments over 6 weeks. The control group received TCM therapy alone and was instructed to maintain their usual daily physical activity. Outcome variables measured included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Short Form of McGill PainQuestionnaire (SF-MPQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) and gait performance. Results: Among the 272 randomized participants, 259 completed the study. The mean VAS score was 51.77mm at baseline in the TCEs plus TCM group, and 50.93mm for the TCM alone group. The reduction in the VAS score at week 6 was greater in the TC group than in the TCM group with a mean difference of 4.05 (95% CI, 2.15-5.95; P < 0.001), and the ODI score with between-group differences of 3.57 points (95% CI, 2.84-4.30 points; P < 0.001). Similar significantly different results were observed in SF-MPQ, walking speed, cadence, and lumbar ROM. No serious adverse events were reported throughout the study period. Conclusion: Compared with TCM alone, TCEs combined with TCM treatment performed better in reducing pain and improving disability. The combination therapy could be considered a valuable treatment option for LDH patients, with potential therapeutic utility for middle-aged and elderly patients with LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture and massage are among the oldest medical treatments in China. During the acupuncture process, as well as the subsequent needle extraction process, there are differences in the acupuncture intensity, treatment duration, and acupuncture depth. For both medical treatments of acupuncture and massage, this article learns and analyzes a large amount of literature and applies DBN neural network method to build a human skeletal model to simulate and identify medical professional steps such as acupuncture therapy. The research results show that the recognition rate of DBN reaches 92.1% after the training of 1000 samples. After learning all the training samples, the DBN model achieved feature recognition accuracy of 96.4%, 97.68%, 96.66%, and 92.27% for the test samples of mixed needling process, needle insertion operation, needle extraction operation, and rotary needle handling process, respectively. The research in this article can contribute to the modernization of Chinese medicine by maximizing the simulation of the force on the human body when receiving needling and tui-na, as well as the clinical treatment effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the performance of sports dance in China has become better and better. Naturally, the technical requirements for this dance are getting higher and higher, and the number and intensity of training have also increased, which has led to increasing injuries in sports dance. This article is based on visual sensor images to analyze and study the common injuries and prevention of sports dance practitioners. It is aimed at providing a certain reference basis for athletes' injuries, so that dance practitioners and coaches can better master sports dance training and teaching. Injury-related rules and prevention reduce the injury rate. This article puts forward the related technology of a visual sensor image and applies its technology to the prevention and research of common injuries in sports dance. At the same time, it analyzes the causes of sports dance practitioners' injuries and seeks economical and affordable massage techniques for prevention, and the method of treatment provides protection for dance practitioners. The experimental results in this article show that the Tuina group cured 15 subjects, 41 subjects were markedly effective, 13 subjects were improved, and 6 subjects were unhealed. The total effective rate was 92%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the reporting quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of massage, particularly whether necessary elements related to massage interventions were adequately reported. Methods: A total of 8 electronic databases were systematically searched for massage RCTs published in English and Chinese from the date of their inception to June 22, 2020. Quality assessment was performed using three instruments, namely the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 Checklist (37 items), the CONSORT Extension for NPT (Nonpharmacologic Treatments) 2017 checklist (18 items), and a self-designed massage-specific checklist (16 items) which included massage rationale, intervention and control group details. Descriptive statistics were additionally used to analyse the baseline characteristics of included trials. Results: A total of 2,447 massage RCTs were identified, of which most (96.8%) were distributed in China. For the completeness of CONSORT, NPT Extension, and massage-specific checklists, the average reporting percentages were 50%, 10% and 45%, respectively. Of 68 assessed items in total (exclusion of 3 repeated items on intervention), 42 were poorly presented, including 18 CONSORT items, 15 NPT items, and 9 massage-specific items. Although the overall quality of reporting showed slightly improvement in articles published after 2010, the international (English) journals presented a higher score of the CONSORT and NPT items, while the Chinese journals were associated with the increased score of massage-specific items. Conclusion: The quality of reporting of published massage RCTs is variable and in need of improvement. Reporting guideline "CONSORT extension for massage" should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Massage is a popularly used complementary and alternative therapy. Previous randomised controlled trials have examined the effects of massage on children, and several systematic reviews have been conducted to synthesise these data. This study aims to assess and summarise the current evidence from published systematic reviews of controlled clinical trials on the practice of paediatric massage, specifically in infants and children aged < 5 years. Methods: The online databases MEDLINE, Embase, Health Technology Assessment Database, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Allied and Complementary Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Data will be searched from the inception onwards for evidence of the treatment effects. We will include systematic reviews of randomised control trials evaluating the effects and safety of massage therapy in infants and children aged < 5 years. The primary outcomes will be any physical or psychological outcome, and adverse effects on children. Secondary outcomes will include any physical or psychological outcome on caregivers. Two reviewers will independently screen the articles for inclusion as per the eligibility criteria. They will extract information from the included studies and assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A table will be used to summarise of information of the included studies, which includes the basic information, method and findings. The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews will be assessed by A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews version 2 (AMSTAR 2). Extracted data from the included studies will be collected and presented using narrative approach. The pooled effect estimates for meta-analysed outcomes will be extracted when possible. If there is a discrepancy in results of two or more reviews on the same topic, then the causes of such discrepancy will be further explored. Discussion: This overview of systematic reviews will summarise the current evidence on massage, specifically for infants and children aged < 5 years. We will comprehensively present the positive effects and adverse effects of this intervention. Findings from this overview will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Systematic review registration: CRD42020186003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of pediatric Tuina (PT) in preventing recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study based on the electronic medical records of children with recurrent ARTIs in 2016. Children were divided into a PT group or a non-PT group, according to whether they had received PT or not in 2016. The primary outcome was the number of ARTI episodes in 2017 and 2018. The secondary outcomes were the number of ARTIs leading to outpatient department visits and outpatient antibiotic prescriptions due to ARTIs in the same time period. Negative binomial regressions were used to detect the association between PT and the outcomes., Results: A total of 2303 children were included in the analysis, including 94 in the PT group and 2209 in the non-PT group. Children who received PT six or more times in 2016 had fewer episodes of ARTIs in 2017 [incidence rate ratio ( IRR ): 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.42-0.84)] and 2018 [ IRR : 0.58, 95% CI (0.36-0.94)] and fewer outpatient department visits due to ARTIs in 2017 [ IRR : 0.56, 95% CI (0.38-0.83)] than children who had not received PT in 2016. There was no significant difference in the number of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions between the two groups., Conclusions: Receiving PT six or more times within one year is associated with a decrease in recurrent ARTIs in children in the following two years. Randomized controlled trials are needed for effect evaluation prior to establishing PT as a method for preventing recurrent ARTIs among children.

Copyright of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice is the property of Journal of Clinical Nursing in Practice (Editorial Board, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

COVID-19 has been discovered since December 2019 and has become a global pandemic recently, killing hundreds of thousands of people in 216 countries and regions around the world.COVID-19 has caused more than 4000 deaths in China, seriously affecting national health and national economy. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China has used the method of sino-western medicine to prevent and control COVID-19, effectively curbed the spread of the epidemic. But the TCM methods in the scheme are all oral prescriptions, less involving non-drug methods. Therefore, I searched the COVID-19 control methods published in various parts of the country, this paper plans to discuss how to improve immunity from the perspective of non-drug methods such as moxibustion, diet therapy, self massage, physical exercise skills and traditional music, hoping can helps the susceptible populations, infected, discharged and medical staff in COVID-19 epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the methodological quality of massage-related clinical practice guidelines (CPGs)/consensus on massage using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument and to summarize the current status of recommendations in the CPGs., Methods: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), PubMed, Embase, and guideline websites (such as the Chinese Medical Ace Base, the China Association of Chinese Medicine, the World Health Organization, Guideline International Network, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) were searched from inception to October 31, 2022. In addition, the reference lists of relevant studies were reviewed to identify domestic and overseas massage CPGs/consensus. The search terms adopted a combination of subject words and free words, mainly including traditional Chinese medicine, complementary therapies, Tuina, massage, manipulation, chiropractic/osteopathic, spinal, acupressure, guideline, and consensus. Two researchers independently completed the eligible records and extracted the data. Before the formal research, calibrations were performed twice on AGREE II, and all reviewers completed the pilot test three times until they understood and reached an agreement on the assessment items. Three researchers appraised the methodological quality of the included guidelines using the AGREE II instrument and calculated the overall intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of agreement., Results: The evaluation results showed that among the 49 eligible CPGs/consensus, 4 (8.2%) CPGs/consensus were considered "recommended", 15 (30.6%) CPGs/consensus were considered "recommended with modifications", and 30 (61.2%) CPGs/consensus were considered "not recommended", while the consensus was considered "not recommended". Generally, the scores in the six domains of the guidelines were all higher than the consensus. Evaluation results for the overall quality of 36 CPGs showed that 4 (11%) were "good quality", 15 (42%) were "sufficient quality" and 17 (47%) were "lower quality". The AGREE II quality scores of domains ranged from 0.30 to 0.75 ([ICC = 0.993, 95% CI (0.992, 0.995)]). The domain of scope and purpose (domain 1), with a median score of 0.75 (0.52~0.91), performed best in the guidelines with AGREE II, and stakeholder involvement (domain 2) [median 0.39 (0.31~0.56)] and application (domain 5) [median 0.30 (0.17~0.47] obtained lower scores. The consensus score of domain 1 was better at 26.0 (21.6~44.8), followed by rigor of development (domain 3) with a score of 18.0 (10.0~28.9). A total of 119 massage-related recommendations were extracted from 49 guidelines/consensuses, including "in favor" (102, 85.7%), "against" (9, 7.6%), and "did not make recommendations" (8, 6.7%)., Conclusion: The overall quality of the included guidelines was low, and most of the guidelines were not "recommended". In future guideline updates, the existing evidence should be used, the professional composition of members of the expert group should be enriched, and patients' values and preferences should be fully considered. It is necessary to clearly propose recognizable recommendations and strengthen the rigor and standardization of guideline formulation. Thus, clear standard guidelines can be formulated to better guide clinical practice., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Jaundice is one of the most common health problems among neonates, involving almost 60% of full-term newborns, therefore requiring consequent phototherapy. Since phototherapy has several complications, considering alternative treatments has long been of pivotal importance. Therefore, the present study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of bath and massage in bilirubin levels in neonates. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted on neonates who were born in Zeyaei Hospital in Ardakan, Iran, in 2018. A total of 90 neonates were selected using the convenience sampling method and then assigned into two intervention groups (i.e., bath group and massage group) and a control group through random allocation method. In the bath group, the neonates were bathed immediately after birth. In the massage group, the neonates received field massage twice a day each lasting 15 min for 5 consecutive days. The neonates belonging to the control group were served with routine care. The jaundice meter China 800 (jk) device was used to measure the skin bilirubin levels of the neonates in the three groups in a scheduled manner (i.e., days 1, 3, 5, and 7) at 9 a.m. The data were analyzed using the ANOVA, Chi-square test, Tukey's post hoc test, and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS software (version 18). Results: There was no significant difference between the mean bilirubin scores of the three groups over the first, third, and fifth days. A significant difference was found between the mean bilirubin scores of the bath and massage groups compared with that of the control group on the seventh day (P=0.001). Also, no significant difference was seen between the mean bilirubin levels of the bath and massage groups on the seventh day. Conclusion: The findings revealed that there was no difference between the bath and massage techniques in reducing neonatal jaundice. Therefore, both techniques can be utilized in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted from 2022 to 2023 at a hospital specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai. A total of 564 participants were allocated into control and intervention groups in order to determine the effectiveness of Shujing Tongdu massage on patients with chronic lesions or spinal disorders. No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics between the groups; age, gender and condition type were all distributed in a comparable manner. Following the implementation of Shujing Tongdu massage therapy twice weekly for the duration of 12 weeks, intervention group exhibited noteworthy enhancements. Significantly, rate of lesion healing achieved in the intervention group increased by 30%, while it merely improved by 10% in the control group. The intervention group exhibited decrease in pain intensity from 6.5 to 4.2, whereas control group demonstrated comparatively smaller reduction from 6.7 to 6.0. Range of motion in the intervention group increased substantially from 45 to 60 degrees, whereas it increased from 44 to 46 degrees in the control group. In the intervention group, Quality of Life scores increased from 50 to 75, exceeding the increase of 58 in the control group. There was significant rise in the Mental Well-being Index for intervention group, from 60 to 80, in contrast to rise of 64 from 62 in the control group. Statistically significant outcomes were determined, establishing the massage therapy's efficacy. Mild discomfort and muscle soreness were the most frequent adverse effects in the intervention group, whereas vertigo was more prevalent in the control group. Based on the findings of this research, Shujing Tongdu massage therapy effectively promoted wound healing and mitigated symptoms associated with spinal disorders, indicating its potential as the supplementary therapeutic modality in clinical environments., (© 2024 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Geriatric depression is a major public health problem in China. The study compared the intervention and follow-up effects of aromatherapy massage and inhalation on symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults after an 8-week intervention. Design: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted on community-dwelling adults ≥60 years old, with symptoms of depression. Participants were randomly assigned, by Latin Square, to aromatherapy massage, inhalation, or control groups (each n  = 20). Interventions: The aromatherapy massage group received 30 min of aromatherapy massage with 5 mL oil, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The oil contained 50 μL (one drop) of compound essential oils (lavender [ Lavandula angustifolia ], sweet orange [ Citrus sinensis ], and bergamot ( Citrus bergamia in a 2:1:1 ratio)], diluted in sweet almond oil to a concentration of 1%. The aromatherapy inhalation group received 30 min of nasal inhalation of 50 μL of the compound essential oils blended in 10 mL of purified water, twice weekly for 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Outcome measures: The Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used for assessment at pretest, posttest, and 6- and 10-week follow-ups in all groups. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration was assessed pretest and posttest. Results: Postintervention, the aromatherapy massage and inhalation groups demonstrated significantly lower GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores than control participants. Compared with the pretest, the GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores for depressive symptoms in both experimental groups remained lower at posttest (8 weeks), 6-week (14 weeks), and 10-week (18 weeks) follow-ups. However, the GDS-SF and PHQ-9 scores did not differ among the four time points in the control group. The posttest 5-HT concentrations in the aromatherapy massage and inhalation groups were increased over pretest values. Conclusions: Both aromatherapy massage and aromatherapy inhalation may have important implications for intervening depression in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and perineal massage during late pregnancy on postpartum pelvic floor function in nulliparas., Design: Randomised controlled trial., Setting: The Peking University First Hospital, a teaching hospital in China., Participants: Two-hundred nulliparas were included., Interventions: Nulliparas were randomised into four groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Group A, control; group B, perineal massage; group C, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT); group D, perineal massage and PFMT. The intervention group received the corresponding intervention from 34 weeks of gestation until delivery., Measurements: Changes in pelvic floor function from 34 weeks of gestation to 6 weeks postpartum were assessed using pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POP-Q), and pelvic floor distress inventory-20 (PFDI-20)., Results: Those with PFMT (groups C and D) had a smaller decline in pelvic floor EMG of fibre II than those without PFMT (groups A and B) [- 0.2 (- 7.1, 11.3) µV vs 6.1 (- 0.2, 15.2) µV, P = 0.040]. The same scenario was observed in the pelvic floor EMG of fibre I. The Aa point measurement differences of those with PFMT (groups C and D) were smaller than those without PFMT (groups A and B) [0.0 (0.0, 2.0) cm vs 1.0 (0.0, 3.0) cm, P = 0.006]. The same result was observed for point Ba. No difference was observed in EMG and POP-Q in nulliparas with (groups B and D) or without perineal massage (groups A and C). No differences were observed in PFDI-20 scores., Key Conclusions: PFMT during late pregnancy enhanced pelvic floor EMG, while perineal massage alone or PFMT combined with perineal massage did not., Implications for Practice: PFMT in late pregnancy enhances pelvic floor function., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors have a conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Despite increasing academic interest focused on Chinese cities, there has been relatively little sustained theoretical and empirical engagement with critical approaches that have enlivened urban geography over the past 30 years. In this paper we seek to advance this research agenda by focusing on embodied urban geographies. More specifically, we consider case studies of dance and massage in order to show how critical engagement with everyday social and cultural forms and practices has much to offer understanding of urban life in China. Discussing theoretical terrain relating to dance and massage with reference to public/private space, individual/collective practices and experiences, and comfort/discomfort, we also signpost important contributions that critical research into Chinese urbanism can make to broader debates within and beyond urban geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Integrated Rehabilitation Techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine (IRT-TCM) on patients with ischemic stroke as an alternative therapy to conventional rehabilitation techniques. Sixty-nine patients with ischemic stroke were randomly assigned to receive either IRT-TCM (intervention group, n = 46) or conventional rehabilitation techniques (control group, n = 23). The IRT-TCM consisted of a sequential combination of acupuncture and massage techniques. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel index (BI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were measured on day 0 (baseline, before treatment), day 21, and day 90. We observed that the scores in FMA and BI were increased, and NIHSS were decreased in both groups on day 21 and 90, compared with the baseline (day 0). Furthermore, significantly better scores in FMA of lower limbs and NIHSS were found in patients treated with IRT-TCM on day 21 and 90. For mRS, the percentage of patients ranking 0 and 1 in the intervention group presented a striking contrast to the control group on day 90 but with no significant difference. The results indicated that, as a feasible alternative therapy, IRT-TCM is beneficial for patients with ischemic stroke. Further research with larger sample size, long-term observation, and strict blinding are still in need to confirm the efficacy of IRT-TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from Hochschild’s concept of ‘emotional labour’, this article explores the roles performed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) masseuses in a large spa complex in a Chinese metropolis. Through an ethnographic study it was found that such roles were constantly shifting according to the dynamics of the service encounter and such shifts exhibited different forms of emotional labour that can actually accumulate exchange value in the form of psychological and economic benefits. Moreover, the masseuses had a very strong social identity as massage ‘experts’ that appeared to buttress the negative outcomes often associated with emotional labour. The findings suggest that emotional labour is not a stable and static process as previously thought and that future research needs to take more into account the agency of the worker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tui-na is a manual therapy that is one of the five branches of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine and uses Chinese medical theory as the basis for its application and actions. It was first used in the 16th-11th centuries BC and references to this treatment can be found in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic 475-221 BC). From a conventional medicine perspective, Tui-na can be thought of as corresponding to a combination of acupressure, conventional massage and chiropractic techniques. It can be used to regulate the Channels, soothe joints and sinews, promote circulation of Qi and Blood, strengthen the immune system and promote normal function of the Zang-fu organs. Tui-na is most commonly used to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and is also useful as a preventative medicine therapy, because it promotes balance in the body. Small and large animals and exotic species respond well to Tui-na treatments and it can be used for animals that will not allow acupuncture needles to be placed. It is safe and effective with no known side effects. Although veterinarians must receive specific training in the techniques and applications of Tui-na, once mastered several Tui-na techniques can be easily taught to caretakers for home treatments. Mo-fa (touching skin and muscle), Rou-fa (rotary kneading), Ca-fa (rubbing), Tui-fa (pushing), An-fa (pressing), Nie-fa (pinching), Dou-fa (shaking), Ba-sheng-fa (stretching) and Cuo-fa (kneading) are Tui-na techniques that caretakers can learn and use to accelerate the healing process and deepen the connection with their animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand male spa-goers (a growing customer segment) in Hong Kong hotel spas by examining empirical data collected via questionnaire surveys. The results of the study indicate that the most cited reason why male spa-goers patronized a hotel spa was relaxation, and the most consumed service was body massage. The importance–performance analysis categorized 30 spa-related attributes into the four quadrants calling for hotel spa management's attention in reexamining their spa operations and features. Furthermore, five performance factors were derived: Environment, Reliability, Service Experience, Value, and Augmented Service Quality. In particular, the Environment factor was the common factor that significantly influenced male hotel spa-goers' overall satisfaction, likelihood to revisit, and likelihood to recommend. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Infant massage was first introduced in China in 2nd century BC. Massaging the newborn has been a tradition in India and other Asian countries since time immemorial. Various oil-based preparations have been used depending on the regional availability. There has been a recent surge in this ancient art particularly as a therapy among parents and professionals in the Western world. Evidence exists supporting the benefits of touch and massage therapy. We reviewed the literature to look at the various techniques of providing massage, its benefits, possible mechanism of action and adverse effects. The review suggests that massage has several positive effects in terms of weight gain, better sleep-wake pattern, enhanced neuromotor development, better emotional bonding, reduced rates of nosocomial infection and thereby, reduced mortality in the hospitalized patients. Many studies have described the technique and frequency of this procedure. Massage was found to be more useful when some kind of lubricant oil was used. Harmful effects like physical injury and increased risk of infection were encountered when performed inappropriately. The review also discusses the different hypotheses put forward regarding the mechanism of action. As of now there are very few studies describing the long term impact of neonatal massage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease, which can cause low back pain, sciatica, and even disability. The treatment of LDH is a global challenge. Conservative therapy with non-drugs is considered to be the first choice for patients with LDH. In recent years, an increasing number of systematic reviews and meta analyses on Daoyin and massage interventions in lumbar disc herniation have been implemented. However, the evidence quality and methodological quality of these systematic reviews/meta analyses are unknown and need to be systematically evaluated. This overview aims to systematically summarize and critically appraise the current evidence on Daoyin and massage for LDH., Methods: Eight electronic data will be retrieved, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database (WF), China Biomedical database (CBM), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (WOS), and EMBASE from their inception to March 1, 2022. The reporting quality, methodological quality, risk of bias, quality of evidence will be assessed by using The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 (PRISMA 2020), the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic Review (ROBIS), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Two independent researchers conducted literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation process. In addition, we will establish an overlap matrix and calculate the corrected covered area to evaluate the impact of overlapping areas on conclusions., Results: The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., Conclusion: This overview will provide comprehensive evidence of Daoyin and massage for treating lumbar disc herniation., Systematic Review Registration: INPLASY202210019., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of the effect of the smart Chinese massage appliance on the participants' sports performance and physical and mental health after intermittent exercises. The study was performed by a mixed-study method. First, the experimental research method was used to design an experimental procedure and specifications such as data collection scope. Next, the quantitative research was carried out, using SPSS 26.0 statistical software to analyze data from the questionnaire. Then, the qualitative research was carried out by interviewing experts and respondents and obtaining their opinions. Finally, all the data were collated and analyzed using the multidimensional review method. Findings . Chinese massage significantly improved the physical fitness, exercise performance, body composition, and physical and mental health status of high-strength cyclic exercise participants. High-strength exercises can improve the physical and mental health of men. Medium-strength exercises could improve current conditions for women. Oxygen intake remained peaked for 8 sessions for men and increased after 30 sessions for women. Both groups required a 1-2-week adaptation period but had different exercise performance periods. After the experiment, head and back pain, as well as stress and negative emotions, was improved. The high intensity of the exercises relieved fear, headache or head stress, overeating, and other problems., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ko-Hsin Chang et al.)

Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is one of the most common complications among participants undergoing abdominal surgery, with an incidence of 10%-30%. In China, massage is generally the most widely used technique to treat various diseases by the theory of Yin and Yang. In this study, our aim is to assess the effect and safety of massage on gastrointestinal function among participants undergoing abdominal surgery., Methods: We will search seven databases including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WANGFANG. Meanwhile, we will include all randomized controlled trials if they recruited participants undergoing abdominal surgery. Primary outcomes will be the time to first defecation. Two authors will independently scan all the potential articles, extract the data and assess the risk of bias by Cochrane tool of risk of bias. Al analysis will be performed by RevMan 5.3 software. Dichotomous variables will be expressed as RR with 95% CIs and continuous variables will be reported as MD with 95% CIs. If possible, a fixed or random effects models will be conducted and the confidence of cumulative evidence will be assess using GRADE., Results: This study will be to assess the effect and safety of massage on gastrointestinal function among participants undergoing abdominal surgery., Conclusions: This study will assess the effect and safety of massage among participants undergoing abdominal and move forward to help inform clinical decisions., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: To review systematically the effectiveness and safety of tuina (Chinese massage)in treatment of functional constipation., Methods: The articles on functional constipation treated with tuina were collected by computer retrieval from 7 databases from the date of establishment to March 28, 2020, including Chinese biomedical literature database (SinoMed), China journal full-text database (CNKI), full-text database of Wanfang academic journals (Wanfang), VIP Chinese science and technology journal database(VIP), PubMed, Dutch medical literature database (EMbase) and the Cochrane Library. After data extraction and quality evaluation of the included articles, Meta analysis was conducted with RevMan5.3 software., Results: A total of 16 articles were included, with 1424 cases involved. Meta analysis results showed: ①The total effective rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group ( RR =1.28, 95% CI : 1.16-1.42, P <0.000 01 ) . ②The effective rate for the symptoms of functional constipation in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group ( RR =1.38, 95% CI :1.25-1.52, Z =6.31, P <0.000 01). ③Adverse reactions in the treatment group in the treatment of functional constipation were less than those in the control group ( RR =0.10, 95% CI : 0.02-0.49, Z =2.81, P =0.005).④The effective rate of functional constipation treated on the base of syndrome differentiation in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group ( RR =1.50, 95% CI : 1.08-2.10, Z =2.39, P =0.02).⑤The improvements in fecal characteristics, defecation time and defecation frequency of the patients with functional constipation in the treatment group were better than those in the control group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Tuina therapy presents a certain advantages on its curative effect on functional constipation, has less adverse reactions and relieves the relevant symptoms of functional constipation. But more randomized controlled trials with high quality and large sample are required to provide further verification of its effect.

Context: Agitation, aggression, stress, and anxiety are common in patients with dementia. Another essential feature of dementia is a significant decline in a patient's cognitive ability, and communicating among patients through language becomes virtually ineffective. Scientists have examined techniques to maintain communication with patients with dementia at a basic level, such as through gentle touch in the form of massage., Objective: The literature review intended to examine the role of massage therapy, either alone or in conjunction with other nonpharmacological interventions such as aromatherapy or calming music, in attenuating aggression and related behavioral disorders in patients with dementia., Design: The research team performed a literature review, searched the PubMed database, using different keyword combinations, including massage, message AND aromatherapy, dementia, agitation, stress, and anxiety., Setting: The study was performed in China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University (Changchun, China)., Results: The employment of massage therapy, either alone or in combination with aromatherapy or calming music, can significantly decrease agitation, aggression, stress, and anxiety in patients with dementia. Moreover, massage therapy can also be beneficial for nursing personnel involved in taking care of patients with dementia. The combination of massage with aromatherapy seems to impart the most significant results in patients with dementia., Conclusion: Massage therapy may be a useful nonpharmacological intervention in nursing profession to control agitation and stress in patients with dementia.

Background: Anxiety is the most common negative emotion among the patients awaiting coronary angiography. The increased anxiety may exacerbate coronary heart disease symptoms and possibly contribute to complications during the procedure. Chinese hand massage is a nonpharmaceutical intervention that has been used in several clinical situations in China and might have beneficial effects on reducing anxiety before coronary angiography., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese hand massage care on anxiety among patients awaiting coronary angiography., Methods: One hundred eighty-five subjects awaiting coronary angiography in a single hospital in Fuzhou, China, between May 2012 and September 2012 were screened. One hundred eligible participants were recruited and randomly assigned into the control or Chinese hand massage group. The control group received the conventional therapies and care according to the guidelines, and those in the Chinese hand massage group received additional Chinese hand massage care in conjunction with the same conventional therapies and care as the control group. The anxiety scores (evaluated by using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale), heart rate, blood pressure, quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey), and the adverse events were recorded at the baseline and after coronary angiography, respectively., Results: The scores of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale in the Chinese hand massage group (11.78 [SD, 2.9]) had a statistically significant decrease compared with those in the control group (15.96 [SD, 3.4]) at post-procedure (P < .01). There was no statistically significant difference on blood pressure, heart rate, and Short-Form Health Survey at postangiography between the Chinese hand massage group and the control group. No adverse event was reported during the intervention period., Conclusions: Chinese hand massage effectively alleviated anxiety without any adverse effects among patients awaiting coronary angiography. Therefore, it might be recommended as a nonpharmacological nursing intervention. However, future study with a larger sample size is needed to further confirm the efficacy of Chinese hand massage intervention.

Precise evaluation of bruises and patterned skin lesions in infants and children is an essential requirement in cases of potential abuse. Such injuries may be markers of more significant internal injuries and/or may be supportive of an assault rather than an accident. On occasion, however, unusual patterned skin lesions may be identified that have been inflicted as part of traditional therapeutic techniques. A five-year-old boy from a rural Chinese community is reported who died from ligature strangulation. In addition to bruises from abusive trauma he had a series of unusual patterned, often-paired, bruises over the anterior and posterior aspects of both shoulders, unrelated to the ligature mark. Upon further police inquiries it transpired that his grandmother and mother had been using traditional Chinese therapeutic massage or "ba sha" to treat an episode of vomiting. The term means "to pull out fever" and involves firm pinching of the skin between the thumb and index finger, often on the neck, chest or back. An awareness of the potential manifestations of traditional therapies is important in contemporary forensic practice so that injuries caused by these treatments are not confused with non-therapeutic inflicted injury., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore the most effective parameters of Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation for improving peripheral blood circulation., Methods: A total of 45 volunteers were recruited from Pudong district in Shanghai, China, from October to December 2010, and randomly divided into nine groups using computer-generated random numbers. Participants received Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation on Chengjin (BL 56) acupoint; each group received a particular combination of manipulation force and treatment time. We used a two-factor, three-level factorial design to examine the effects of force and treatment time on changes in popliteal artery average volume flow, pulsatility index, and vessel diameter to determine the optimal parameter group. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after Tuina manipulation by interviewers blind to treatment group status., Results: After manipulation, two of the nine groups showed an increase in popliteal artery volume flow. An inter-participants effect test showed that for main effect of time, F = 0.331, P = 0.720; for main effect of force, F = 2.934, P = 0.066; and for the force-time interaction effect, F = 1.072, P = 0.385, indicating no interaction between force and time. However, a pairwise comparison of the three levels of time showed that a treatment time of 10 min was significantly more effective than that of 2 min (P = 0.024). A pairwise comparison of light force, medium force, and heavy force showed a statistically significant effect for medium force (P = 0.035)., Conclusion: Yi Zhi Chan Tuina manipulation with vertical force of 9.31 N for 10 min is most effective in improving peripheral circulation.

Obesity is one of the leading health risk factors worldwide and is associated with several other risk factors and health problems. Acupuncture is utilized to treat a variety of health problems, one of which is obesity. Fifty-six obese women with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2) were recruited for this trial and were randomly divided into two groups, one with combined manual acupuncture and massage therapy (MAMT), and the other with only manual acupuncture therapy (MAT). In addition, 40 overweight women with BMI 23-25 kg/m(2) were randomly divided into two groups, one with MAMT and the other with MAT. Therapy was carried out once per day for 21 days, and the body weights and the BMIs were recorded every day. The results showed that both MAMT and MAT could reduce body weight and BMI significantly, compared with the pretreatment values, for all the participants (p < 0.001); however, the differences in body weight and BMI reductions between pre- and posttreatment for the MAMT and the MAT groups were not statistically significant. The optimal periods for reductions in both body weight and in BMI were the first 4 days. Accounting for the economic strategy (time and money) in alternative therapy, MAT alone may present a reasonable option in the treatment of overweight and obesity in adults., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: The use of acupuncture has been suggested for the treatment of acute neck pain caused by stiff neck in China. However, current evidence is insufficient to draw any conclusions about its efficacy. Therefore this pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture at the Houxi (SI3) acupoint for treatment of acute neck pain., Methods/analysis: This pilot study will be a two-parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Thirty-six stiff neck participants with acute neck pain will be recruited and randomly divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group will receive massage on the local neck region (5 min each session, three times a day for 3 days). In addition to massage, patients in the treatment group will receive acupuncture (one session a day for 3 days). Measures will be taken at 0, 3 and 15 days. The primary outcome is the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ). The secondary outcome is the Short Form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ)., Ethics/dissemination: The protocol for this pilot randomised clinical trial has undergone ethics scrutiny and been approved by the ethics review boards of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Permission number: HZYLL201303502). The findings of this study will provide important clinical evidence on the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture treatment for stiff neck patients with acute neck pain. In addition, it will explore the feasibility of further acupuncture research., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR-TRC-13003911., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Background: Low back pain is a common, disabling musculoskeletal disorder in both developing and developed countries. Although often recommended, the potential efficacy of massage therapy in general, and Chinese massage (tuina) in particular, for relief of chronic low back pain (CLBP) has not been fully established due to inadequate sample sizes, low methodological quality, and subclinical dosing regimens of trials to date. Thus, the purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of tuina massage therapy versus conventional analgesics for CLBP., Methods/design: The present study is a single center, two-arm, open-label RCT. A total of 150 eligible CLBP patients will be randomly assigned to either a tuina treatment group or a conventional drug control group in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the tuina group receive a 20 minutes, 4-step treatment protocol which includes both structural and relaxation massage, administered in 20 sessions over a period of 4 weeks. Patients in the conventional drug control group are instructed to take a specific daily dose of ibuprofen. The primary outcome measure is the change from baseline back pain and function, measured by Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, at two months. Secondary outcome measures include the visual analogue scale, Japanese orthopedic association score (JOAS), and McGill pain questionnaire., Discussion: The design and methodological rigor of this trial will allow for collection of valuable data to evaluate the efficacy of a specific tuina protocol for treating CLBP. This trial will therefore contribute to providing a solid foundation for clinical treatment of CLBP, as well as future research in massage therapy., Trial Registration: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov of the National Institute of Health on 22 October 2013 (http://NCT01973010).

Background: Chronic orofacial pain (OFP) is common in general adult populations worldwide. High levels of psychological distress and impaired coping abilities are common among Western people with chronic OFP but limited information was found in southern Chinese people. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of community dwelling elderly people with chronic OFP symptoms and their treatment seeking behaviour in Hong Kong., Methods: An exploratory qualitative interview study was conducted. Elderly people experiencing chronic OFP symptoms were invited to take part in an individual semi-structured interview. A total of 25 semi-structured interviews were performed for 25 participants., Results: Pertinent issues relating to the treatment seeking behaviour emerged from the interviews, many of which were inter-related and overlapping. They were organized into three major themes: (i) Impact of chronic OFP on daily life; (ii) Personal knowledge and feeling of chronic OFP; (iii) Management of chronic OFP. The participants were found to have the intention to seek professional treatment, but there were barriers which discouraged them continuing to seek professional treatment. They also received complementary treatment for chronic OFP, such as acupuncture, massage and "chi kung". Moreover, a wide range self-management techniques were also mentioned. On the other hand, those who did not seek professional treatment for the chronic OFP claimed that they had accepted or adapted to the pain as part of their lives., Conclusions: This qualitative study observed that elderly people affected by chronic OFP symptoms in Hong Kong sought many different ways to manage their pain including traditional and complementary approaches. The role of the dentist in dealing with chronic OFP is unclear. Multiple barriers exist to accessing care for chronic OFP. The findings may be used to inform future chronic OFP management strategies in Hong Kong.

Asian heterosexual women in the U.S. have experienced relative rising HIV case rates, but there remain few studies and no evidence-based interventions that focus on this population. This study was a randomized controlled trial of a gender and ethnically tailored HIV prevention intervention for monolingual Chinese-speaking women who work as masseuses in Los Angeles. The intervention was two group-based sessions focused on HIV risk and prevention knowledge and condom skills. The control condition was a single-session HIV review. Participants were recruited using newspaper advertisements and referrals from agencies and massage schools. Two hundred women were randomly assigned to one of each condition. Retention in both conditions exceeded 90% at 3-month follow-up. Participants in both conditions demonstrated increases in knowledge on how to use male and female condoms. These effects were sustained at 3-month follow-up. The results highlight the possible efficacy of a one-workshop intervention in increasing HIV knowledge, but that more intensive participant interaction may be needed for improved condom use knowledge.