OPTIMIZATION OF PARAMETERS IN TUINA ROLLING MANIPULATION USING ORTHOGONAL DESIGN EXPERIMENT FOR PROMOTING QI AND BLOOD CIRCULATION

Abstract

This study was envisaged to screen the best combination of parameters (time, force and frequency) in the operation of the Tuina rolling manipulation by using the L9(34) orthogonal design experiment, and to experimentally verify the mechanism of promoting qi and blood circulation. The Tactilus 4.0 software was used to measure the H-series pressure measurement system for collection of the force value, frequency and time of the operation of 10 massage teachers, and a 3-factor 3-level orthogonal test was designed. 90 volunteers were divided into 9 groups by random number table method, with 10 subjects in each group, and the experimental parameters of each group were determined. The force, frequency data, blood flow and the skin temperature of the Shenshu acupoint area (right) of the volunteers before and after the rolling manipulation of each group was recorded using the H-series pressure measuring device. Subsequently, the optimized values of the skin blood flow and temperature volunteers’ Shenshu acupoint area (right) were determined under various factors and the best combination of the parameters for improving the qi and blood circulation was obtained. The optimized parameters for the improved skin blood flow in the rolling manipulation method included time: 12[Formula: see text]min, force: 20[Formula: see text]g/cm2, and frequency: 140 times/min. The time factor, followed by frequency and force, had the largest impact on the skin blood flow. The rolling manipulation parameters for the largest change in skin temperature were time: 12[Formula: see text]min, force: 20[Formula: see text]g/cm2, and frequency: 120 times/min. The time factor influenced the skin temperature to the maximum extent, followed by force and frequency. The Pearson correlation coefficient [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) indicated a weak positive correlation between the skin blood flow and skin temperature immediately after massage. The Tuina rolling manipulation produced changes in the skin blood flow and temperature that lasted for 12 min at a force value of 20[Formula: see text]g/cm2 and a frequency of 120–140 times per min. This combination can be more effective in rolling manipulation—the impact of promoting qi and blood circulation. Immediately after the massage, a weak positive relation existed between the skin blood flow and skin temperature, while during the massage, the skin blood flow and skin temperature affected each other. This study provides a solid experimental support for increasing the therapeutic efficacy of the rolling manipulation and investigating its dose-effect connection, and can serve as a guide in the clinical procedure of rolling manipulation.