BACKGROUND : Thumb rubbing is one of the widely accepted massage techniques, owing to its simple and effective operation. Exploring the biomechanical characteristics of the thumb rubbing method can assist the understanding of the operating characteristics of manipulation, thereby improvising the therapeutic role of manipulation. OBJECTIVE: To study the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the thumb kneading method from the biomechanical point of view, and to quantitatively analyze the key points of thumb kneading operation. METHODS: We explored the biomechanical characteristics of the thumb kneading operation by an analysis of the parameters scored by the experts and students using the “thumb kneading data glove and data collection system”. RESULTS: (1) Force trajectory: The expert group showed a regular force trajectory compared to the student group, with a stable thumb suction position, small drift and concentrated force. (2) Force value: The average force value of the expert group was concentrated in the range 0.614 ± 0.041 kg, while the average force value of the student group was concentrated in the range 0.650 ± 0.146 kg and the difference was not statistically significant. (3) Frequency: The frequency of the expert group was mainly concentrated in the range 134.280 ± 39.106 times/min, while that of the student group was 66.04 ± 23.651 times/min, (P< 0.05). (4) Period: The operation cycle during the thumb kneading of the expert and student groups was mainly concentrated in the range of 0.476 ± 0.117 s and (0.990 ± 0.259) s, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that the technical operation of the expert group was more stable and standardized than that of the student group. It was found that the force value was inversely proportional to the frequency of the operation. In the “circular rotation” operation of the thumb rubbing method, the force value conversion degree of different parts of the thumb reflected the motion trajectory. Furthermore, the “circular rotation” operation performed by the expert group was better than the student group. The study of the parameters, including the angle of frequency, period and force value can reflect the biomechanical characteristics of thumb rubbing method to a significant extent.

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BACKGROUND: Acute sports fatigue impairs athletes’ performance and causes other health issues; therefore, an effective method of relieving acute sports fatigue is being researched. Objective: The present study was envisaged to evaluate the effect of electric auto-massage therapy and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitated (PNF) stretching method on the recovery of acute exercise fatigue using the heart rate variability-based multi-physiological index and RPE scale, and to explore the underlying principle and mechanism. METHOD: Sixty volunteers were divided into the stretching group, massage group and control group (20 subjects each) using the complete randomization method. The massage group chose the kneading, pressing, tapping and patting techniques using the intelligent massage chair to intervene on the volunteers, the stretching group chose the PNF stretching method to intervene on the volunteers, while the control group did not adopt any of these techniques. The Rating Of Perceived Exertion (RPE) score, heart rate (HR), grip strength, skin electrical activity, heart rate variability (HRV) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) of the three groups were recorded before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the values of heart rate variability (HRV) in the three groups (P> 0.05), while after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference between the values of heart rate variability – low frequency/high frequency (HRV (LF/HF)) and HRV (HF) in the three groups as: HRV (HF): ηH2= 0.10; P= 0.022; HRV (LF/HF): ηH2= 0.44; P= 0.001. The results indicated that the different intervention methods presented substantial effects on the values of HRV (HF) and HRV (LF/HF) in the volunteers. The HRV (HF) values of massage group, stretching group and control group were compared, and the difference between the massage group and control group was statistically significant (P= 0.019). Further, the HRV (HF) values of massage group rose more significantly than control group after the intervention, and the difference between HRV (HF) values of massage group and stretching group was not statistically significant. When comparing the HRV (LF/HF) values of massage group, stretching group and control group, the differences between the massage group and stretching group and control group were statistically significant (P= 0.001, P< 0.05), and it was observed that the HRV (LF/HF) values of massage group decreased more significantly than those of stretching group and control group after the intervention. The difference in HRV (LF) values between the three groups after the intervention was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: 1. It was observed that the electric automatic massage therapy played a vital role in the rapid relief of exercise fatigue by soothing and regulating the human phototropic system, reducing vagal tone, and accelerating the excretion of metabolites; while PNF stretching relieved the exercise fatigue by providing physical and verbal communication to transfer the perception of fatigue, and by promoting the excretion of metabolites through muscle isometric contraction. 2. The effect of electric auto-massage therapy was marginally stronger than the commonly used PNF stretching exercise method.

BACKGROUND: In the present scenario, there is no unified measurement standard for the five basic requirements of the Tuina manipulation, such as “lasting, uniform, gentle, powerful and penetrating”, and the descriptions that are solely based on the words are difficult to interpret. As a result, a quantitative study of the Tuina manipulation can aid in the development of a unified standard for Tuina manipulation, thereby assisting the transmission and advancement of the Tuina science. OBJECTIVE: Using the Tuina manipulation data gloves and data collection system, and taking Ding’s rolling manipulation as the research object, the present study explored the necessity and significance of quantitative research on the inheritance and development of traditional Tuina manipulation. METHODS: Using the Tuina experts as the research object, the manipulation characteristics and parameter signs of Ding’s rolling manipulation were collected and analyzed by employing the “Tuina manipulation data gloves and data collecting system”. RESULTS: ⟀ The force waveforms, peaks and minima of each detection point altered regularly, and the force values of the front and back pendulum waveforms varied significantly with small differences in the waveform height. ⟁ The Tuina force values of the experts were concentrated in 0.70–0.85 kg, the frequency was concentrated at 120–160 times/min, and the period was about 0.4 s. ⟂ The peak, minimum, and mean of the ai1 channel was greater than ai4, all of which were statistically significant (P< 0.05). The ai6 peak, minimum, and mean were greater than ai3 and statistically significant (P< 0.05). The ai2 peak was greater than ai5, which was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). The ai2 minimum was greater than ai5, and the ai2 mean was less than ai5, all of which were statistically significant (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that the objectification studies of the experts performing Tuina practices should be based on real clinical process. Furthermore, the results of the quantitative study can present the quantitative characteristics of the expert’s parameters, as well as the details of the manipulation process. Thus, the quantitative study of the parameters is of great significance in the transmission and development of the expert’s manipulation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that local vibration stimulation therapy was effective in relieving fatigue, and the effects of different modes of vibration stimulation therapy were further investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of different vibration stimulation modes on relieving acute exercise fatigue based on the multiphysiological indicators such as heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance level (SCL), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) subjective scale. METHODS: Sixty participants selected from the dragon boat team of the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were divided into acupoint stimulation group (20 participants), muscle stimulation group (20 participants), and control group (20 participants) by complete randomization. RESULTS: (1) RPE: both stimulation groups showed a significant increase compared to the control group. (2) Heart rate values: the difference between muscle stimulation group and control group was statistically significant; (3) SCL: the two stimulation groups had significantly higher and statistically significant differences in SCL (max) and SCL (mean) values compared to the control group; the muscle stimulation group had statistically significant differences in SCL (min) compared to the control group, and the acupoint stimulation group had statistically significant differences in SCL (v) compared to the control group; (4) HRV (hf): The difference between the acupoint stimulation group and the muscle stimulation group was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: (1) Both stimulation groups are part of vibration therapy, which can relieve sympathetic tension and regulate the vegetative nervous system’s relaxation effect. (2) The meridian-vessel theory may be related to the acupoint stimulation group. The low-level visceral regulation centers in the spinal nerve segment region, where the acupoints are located, trigger changes in autonomic tone and enhance parasympathetic nerve activity to relieve acute motor fatigue. (3) The muscle stimulation group may be due to the 30-Hz vibration frequency’s ability to raise muscle epidermal temperature, which increases blood flow and reflexively inhibits sympathetic excitation.