Tuina Massage

Tuina (推拿) is an ancient form of Chinese therapeutic massage. It uses a range of techniques — pressing, rubbing, stretching and kneading — to work with points on the body linked to the meridians. In traditional Chinese medicine health depends on the free flow of Qi along these channels, and massage helps restore that flow. In children's rehabilitation tuina is used as part of the comprehensive programme, together with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy.

The core techniques

• Pressing (按, "an") — light or deep pressure on specific points, targeted work with problem areas.
• Rubbing (摩, "mo") — smooth movements that stimulate circulation and relax the muscles.
• Pinching (抓, "zhua") — helps release muscle tension and improve blood flow, used for spasms and tightness.
• Kneading (揉, "rou") — work with deeper muscle tissue to release persistent tension.
• Tapping (拍, "pai") — light rhythmic strokes for gentle stimulation of the nervous system and relaxation.

In cerebral palsy

Massage helps relax tight muscles and improve joint mobility, increasing blood flow to the tissues and supporting lymphatic drainage. Regular sessions support work with muscle tone and coordination, while stimulating active points gives the nervous system additional input. Tuina does not replace physical therapy — it prepares the child's body for movement and helps consolidate what training achieves.

In ASD and psycho-speech delay

For children with autism spectrum disorders tuina is used to calm the nervous system: to reduce anxiety, make falling asleep easier and help the child adapt to tactile input. Specific techniques are used to support attention and reduce hyperactivity, which matters particularly in ADHD. Intensity is chosen individually: where sensory sensitivity is high, the work starts with the gentlest techniques.

What parents should know

Sessions last 50 minutes and run once a day, 6 days a week; the course is 10 sessions. Tuina is combined with other traditional Chinese medicine methods — acupuncture and herbal compresses — and with Western rehabilitation approaches. A doctor examines the child before the course begins, and sessions are carried out by a specialist experienced in working with children with developmental conditions.