"At the end of work is the massage department", because of the same sitting position for a long time, today's "office workers" have become a group with a high incidence of various spinal diseases. Many people choose to go to the massage department of the hospital for treatment after work, or relieve spinal discomfort through self-massage.
How Tuina "smooths" the spine
Sitting for long periods of time not only leads to muscle fatigue, but can also lead to excessive stress on the spine. As the supporting structure of the body, the spine is often compressed or injured, and problems such as spinal stenosis, narrowing of the intervertebral space, and herniated intervertebral discs often occur, resulting in compression of nerves and blood vessels, causing discomfort symptoms such as pain and numbness in the limbs.
Under the guidance of the theory of meridians and acupoints in traditional Chinese medicine, and with the help of syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM massage can adjust the balance of yin and yang in a targeted manner and effectively relieve spinal discomfort. Specifically, it is manifested in the following aspects:
1. Dredging the meridians and harmonizing qi and blood. Through the direct stimulation of the technique, Tuina can act on the meridians, regulate the operation and distribution of qi and blood, dredge the meridians, and reconcile the qi and blood.
2. Strengthen the right and dispel evil, prevent disease and health care. Tuina can act on the relevant acupoints to achieve the purpose of replenishing deficiency and strengthening the body, so that the qi and veins are always clear, the bones and muscles are soft, and the righteous qi is strong.
3. Promote blood circulation and dissipate stasis, reduce swelling and relieve pain. Massage can "disperse the swelling of stasis knots", which can dissipate the blood of menstruation, promote the absorption of local blood stasis and exudate, and eliminate local pain.
4. Adjust the tendons and reposition them, and relieve the tendons. Massage can "smooth" the tissue structure and relax the spasmodic muscles through the action of regulating and relaxing the tendons.
5. Smooth joints and loosen adhesions. Injured tissues tend to stick, causing pain and impaired mobility. Tuina can loosen the adhesions between tissues and return the joints to normal movement.
TCM massage is not suitable for everyone
Although Tuina massage has a good effect on spinal diseases, it is not suitable for everyone. The following groups of people should be aware of:
1. Those with bone abnormalities. Patients with bone tumors, osteomalacia, osteomyelitis, fractures, dislocations, etc. should not be treated with massage. Patients with osteoporosis and osteoporosis should be carefully massaged under the guidance of a doctor to avoid heavy stimulation techniques that cause changes in bone structure and aggravate the condition.
2. Obvious compression of spinal cord or nerve root. When the nerve root is compressed or acute nerve root inflammation occurs, the patient cannot massage himself to avoid aggravating tissue edema and causing the disease to progress.
3. Those who do not tolerate massage. For example, if a patient with cervical spondylosis has aggravated symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting during neck massage, he should immediately stop manual operation to reduce the stimulation of the cervical spine.
4. Pregnant women, people with weak constitution or those with bleeding tendency should avoid massage treatment.
Self-massage relieves spinal discomfort
Shoulder and neck massage
Knead the ligament in a sitting position and use your index, middle, and ring fingers to knead the ligament (from the base of the posterior hairline to the greater vertebral point). Massage 10 times from top to bottom. The large vertebral point is located in a depression under the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.
Take the posterior cervical muscles to take a sitting position, place the palms on the back of the neck, place the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger together next to one side of the cervical vertebrae, and the palms of the large thenar and small thenar opposite, and pinch the posterior cervical muscles (Fengchi acupoint to the Yu acupoint in the middle of the shoulder). Repeat 10 times from top to bottom. The Fengchi point is located under the occipital bone at the back of the neck, in a depression on the lateral edge of the two "big tendons". The middle shoulder Yu point is located under the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, 2 inches next to it (the width between the two ends of the medial end of the middle finger or the interphalangeal joint of the thumb when the middle finger is flexed).
Tap the Feng Chi to take a sitting position, tap the Feng Chi points on both sides with the thumbs of both hands, and it is advisable to have a feeling of soreness in the area, and continue to tap for 2~3 minutes.
Take the shoulder well to sit in a sitting position, the palm root and the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger relative force, take the shoulder well point where the part, and repeat the operation 10 times on each side. The shoulder well point is located at the midpoint of the line between the large vertebral point and the acromion.
Lumbar massage
Rub the Kidney Yu to take a standing or sitting position, cross your hands on your waist, and use your thumb to rub both Kidney Yu acupoints, and it is advisable to have a feeling of soreness in the local area. Knead 60~80 times per minute, press and knead for 2~3 minutes. The Kidney Yu acupoint is located under the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, 1.5 inches apart.
Press the waist eye in a standing or sitting position, clench your hands into fists, press the second metacarpophalangeal joint on the waist and eye points, and press for 2~3 minutes if there is a feeling of soreness in the area. The lumbar eye point is located under the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra, in a depression about 3.5 inches next to it.
Rub the waist Take a standing position, spread your feet shoulder-width apart, place the palms of both hands on both sides of the lumbar spine, and rub the palms up and down vigorously against the waist, and the speed of rubbing should be fast until the skin is hot.
Special reminder
You should do self-massage under the guidance of a professional doctor. The strength of the massage should be moderate, not the bigger the better. Also, take it step by step and don't have to go for immediate results. Otherwise, not only will it not be able to treat it, but it will also aggravate the damage to the spine.
Text: Zhang Wei, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Tuina, The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Editor: Liang Jing and Li Shiyao
Proofreading: Yang Zhenyu
Review: Qin Mingrui, Xu Bingnan