11. Shaking
The distal end of the affected limb is held lightly with one or both hands and moved continuously up and down gently, to relax the joints. This method is useful in treating adhesions or functional disturbances following muscular or joint injuries. Shaking therapy for the shoulder region: The patient sits. The doctor's hand holds the palm of the affected limb and lifts it to 70-80 degrees. The limb is shaken about 200 times per minute while taut. (Fig. 1-30)
Shaking therapy for the hip region: The patient lies on the normal side. The doctor stands to the side of the patient's feet and holds his ankle. The affected limb is lifted up 30 cm. and shaken continuously. More force is exerted than on the upper limbs, and the frequency is lower than 100 times per minute (Fig. 1-31 ).
12. Pushing
The doctor uses his palm or his fingers on certain parts of the body or acupuncture points to make forward or backward, upward and downward, or left-to-right movements. This method activates the circulation and relieves pain. It is widely used for the treatment of rheumatic pain, muscular spasm, and soft-tissue injuries. Each motion may involve a total of 5-10 pushing movements.
For clinical application, one can use the finger, palm, fist, elbow, or the foot to perform the therapy. The palm is used for illustration.
Pushing with the palm:
In pushing with the palm the doctor uses the base of his palm to make pushing motions in an upward-downward or back-and-forth direction. When heavy force is required, the doctor can use both his hands. Usually this method is used over the lumbar region
or the lower limbs, where the affected area is large (Fig. 1-32).
13. Grasping
This method uses the thumb or fingers to pinch the skin or an acupuncture point and pull up on the area. This relieves the pain and releases adhesions, and it is effective against neck and shoulder pain as well as rheumatic pains in the joints and extremities.
During the treatment, the doctor's wrist must be relaxed, and he should use the pads of his fingers. The tissue should be pinched straight up from the body surface, and the grasping therapy can be carried out continuously 5-10 times. According to the extent of the affected area, the therapy can be done with three, four, or five fingers
(Fig. 1-33).
14. Pressing
This method uses the palm, tip of the elbow, or the foot to press certain portions of the body in a gradual and down-ward motion to activate the circulation and adjust malpositionings of the small joints. The pressing should be vertical, steady, and continuous. The doctor may also knead a small area if desired. According to the different locations of the affected area, the doctor can use his palm or elbow (Figs. 1-34, 1-35).
Stepping and pressing: The doctor steps on certain portions of the patient's body to exert pressure, generally on the lumbar, buttock, or thigh regions. During the treatment, the doctor controls his weight by lifting up on parallel bars. He also varies the action of his feet by flexing and extending his knees. This treatment can be performed 4-5 times. This falls into the category of heavy-force treatments and is to be used with care. Its use is contraindicated in cases of ankylosis, osteoporosis, and spinal tuberculosis (Fig. 1-36).
15. Rubbing
The fingers or palm is used to make circular rubbing movements over the patient's body. The force is superficial, and this is the mildest of the massage techniques used. The effect reaches only the subcutaneous tissue. This method is used against swelling and superficial blood stasis. The frequency of the movement can be approximately 100 times per minute (Fig. 1-37).
