The words Tui Na translate as “push-grasp” or “poke-pinch.” Tui na is a kind of combined Acupressure and massage treatment. The practitioner may rub, knead, roll, and press specific areas open the body's Qi flow and get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles.

 

Tui Na is an essential part of any sports medicine practice, and is used exclusively in China in the Orthopedic and Trauma wards of Chinese TCM hospitals.  While some people just don't like needles and prefer Acupressure, other may need Tui Na instead of Acupuncture as the best possible treatment therapy.

 

In a typical session, the patient wears loose clothing and lies on a treatment table. After answering some brief questions about the nature and location of the health problem, the practitioner will concentrate on specific acupressure points, muscles, and joints surrounding the affected area. Occasionally, clothing is removed or repositioned to expose a particular spot, but most Tui Na is done without direct skin-to-skin contact. Treatment sessions last from 10 minutes to over 1 hour. Patients often return for additional treatments for chronic conditions. If Tui Na is done after a standard Acupuncture treatment, the session is usually only 5-10 minutes long.