Tuina massage therapy is a treatment method that combines various massage techniques on different parts of the body to adjust the body’s functions, promote the flow of qi and blood, relax the muscles and tendons, and relieve or improve diseases. There are diverse massage techniques, and it is crucial to master the basic ones. Now, I’d like to share some massage techniques with you.
—— 13 Massage Techniques ——

Pressing Method
Operation Method: Use the base of the palm, the root of the thumb, or the tip of the elbow to apply force vertically downward on the treatment area. It is often combined with the kneading method, called “pressing and kneading”.

Key Points:

① Gradually increase the force when pressing.

② When applying it to the back, press downward with the exhalation of the person being massaged and apply force instantaneously.
Kneading Method

Operation Method:

① Finger Kneading Method: Use the tip of the finger to apply force on the acupoint and perform circular kneading, which can be used on all parts of the body.

② Palm Kneading Method: Use the palm to apply force on the acupoint and perform circular kneading, which is suitable for the waist, back, and abdomen.

③ Thenar Kneading Method: Use the thenar eminence to apply force on the acupoint and perform circular kneading, which is used on the face.

Key Points:

① Use the proximal part of the limb to drive the distal part to perform small-amplitude circular kneading, such as using the forearm to drive the wrist and palm for palm kneading.

② The force-applying part should stay fixed on the acupoint and drive the deep tissues.

③ The pressure should be uniform, and the movements should be coordinated and rhythmic.

Pushing Method
Operation Method:

① Palm Pushing Method: Use the palm to apply force on the treatment area and perform unidirectional linear pushing, which is used on the back, chest, abdomen, and lower limbs.

② Finger Pushing Method: Use the finger to apply force on the treatment area and perform unidirectional linear pushing, which is used on the tendons.

③ Thumb Dividing Pushing Method: Place the radial sides of the two thumbs on the forehead and divide and push from the midline of the forehead to both sides.

Key Points:

① The force-applying part should be closely attached to the skin, with moderate pressure, ensuring that it is light but not floating, and heavy but not stagnant.

② When pushing, the fingers should be in front and the base of the palm should be behind.

③ The speed should be uniform.

Rubbing Method
Operation Method: Attach the palm surface or the surfaces of the index, middle, ring, and little fingers to the treatment area, and use the wrist joint together with the forearm to perform clockwise or counterclockwise circular rubbing.
Key Points:

① Relax the upper limbs and the wrist and palm, and gently place them on the acupoints.

② The movements should be gentle and coordinated, with light force rather than heavy force, and the speed should be slow rather than fast.

Brushing Method
Operation Method:

① Palm Brushing Method: Use the palm to apply force on the treatment area and perform rapid back-and-forth linear brushing, which is used on the lumbosacral region, limbs, and shoulders. ② Thenar Brushing Method: Use the thenar eminence to apply force on the treatment area and perform rapid back-and-forth linear brushing, which is used on the upper limbs, neck, and shoulders.
Key Points: ① The brushing movement should be in a straight line and not deviated. ② The force-applying part should be closely attached to the skin, with moderate pressure. ③ The movements should be continuous, the speed should be uniform and fast, and the back-and-forth distance should be as long as possible.

Squeezing Method
Operation Method: The thumb and the other four fingers apply force relatively on the treatment area and perform rhythmic lifting and pinching. It is often combined with other techniques and used on the neck, shoulders, and limbs.
Key Points: ① Relax the forearm and keep the palm hollow. ② When pinching and squeezing, the direction should be perpendicular to the muscle belly, mainly using the movement of the metacarpophalangeal joints, and the interphalangeal joints should not move. ③ The movements should be coherent, and the force should gradually increase from light to heavy.

Pinching Method
Operation Method:

① Three-finger Pinching Method: Slightly extend the wrist joints backward, place the thumb horizontally on the skin, and place the index and middle fingers on the skin in front of the thumb. Pinch the skin with the three fingers, and the two hands pinch and move forward alternately.

② Two-finger Pinching Method: Slightly deviate the wrist joints towards the ulnar side, place the radial side of the middle phalanx of the index finger horizontally on the skin, and place the thumb on the skin in front of the index finger. Pinch the skin with the thumb and index finger, and pinch and move forward alternately.
Key Points:

① Pinch along a straight line and do not deviate.

② The tightness of pinching the skin and muscles should be appropriate.

Striking Method
Operation Method: Continuously and rhythmically strike the body surface with the fingertips, which is used on the head.
Key Points: ① Relax the wrist joint and let the flexion and extension of the elbow joint drive the free swing of the wrist joint. ② The strikes should be elastic and rhythmic.

Pointing Method
Operation Method: Use the tip of the finger to apply force and continuously press the acupoint, or apply force instantaneously.
Key Points: The finger should maintain a certain posture when applying force to avoid overextension or overflexion of the finger during the pointing process, which may cause damage.

Kneading and Rolling Method
Operation Method: Clamp the limb with both hands and apply opposite force, perform rapid kneading and rolling in the opposite direction, and move up and down at the same time, which is used on the upper limbs.
Key Points: ① The force should be symmetrical. ② The kneading and rolling should be fast, and the movement should be slow.

Twisting Method
Operation Method: Clamp the treatment area with the palmar surface of the thumb and the radial edge of the index finger and perform rapid up-and-down twisting, which is used on the fingers and ears.
Key Points: ① The twisting should be fast, and the movement should be slow. ② During the twisting process, the movement of the index finger should be the main one, and the movement of the thumb should be the auxiliary one. ③ The movements should be continuous.

Patting Method
Operation Method: Close the five fingers together and slightly bend them. Use the forearm to drive the free flexion and extension of the wrist joint. The fingers land first, and then the wrist lands; the wrist lifts first, and then the fingers lift. Pat the body surface with a hollow palm.
Key Points: ① It must be patting with a hollow palm. ② The wrist joint swings freely, and the elbow joint flexes and extends freely. ③ The two hands can cooperate.

Vibrating Method
Operation Method:

① Palm Vibrating Method: Place the palm on a certain part and perform continuous, rapid, up-and-down vibrations, which are used on the abdomen and waist.

② Finger Vibrating Method: Place the tips of the index and middle fingers on the acupoints and perform continuous, rapid, up-and-down vibrations.
Key Points:

① The force-applying part should be closely attached to the skin.

② The frequency should be fast, about 200 to 300 vibrations per minute.