Qigong Therapeutic Massage
Qigong therapeutic massage is one of the natural treatments for non-medical therapy of ailments, which can quickly heal ailments caused by constant tension or injury to soft tissues such as muscles (including muscles, tendons, etc.) or reduce the frequency of such ailments due to lifestyle habits and the nature of work.
General massage can serve to relax the nerves and relieve the discomfort or pain caused by muscle tension. This is because, through various techniques of massage, mainly press, on the one hand, it promotes the flow of Qi energy, on the other hand, it also eliminates the stagnant Qi in the problematic muscle, and therefore it will temporarily reduce the pressure in it and gives a sense of comfort after massage. However, because the tense muscles are not fundamentally relaxed, Qi energy will be re-gathered there and discomfort or pain will recur.
Qigong therapeutic massage is not the case. The key difference from general massage is its therapeutic effect, rather than just relieving pain in a short period of time. It can fundamentally relieve muscle tension and make the flow of Qi energy unblocked. Radically it can eliminate muscle pain and discomfort.
Special abilities of Qigong therapeutic massage therapists
Qigong therapeutic massage therapists have been specially trained (mainly in Qigong - a traditional Chinese meditation practice) to have the special ability to find the key points that cause muscle tension and to be able to treat them. Just as an ammeter can accurately determine where an electric current has been interrupted in a particular part of a wire, a therapeutic massage therapist can accurately find the point where the flow of Qi energy is blocked in the body.
Muscle tension in a certain part is often only caused by one or several muscle myofilament adhesion points. It is due to the instinctive response of adjacent muscles to avoid the pain of the adhesion points. So, finding these adhesion points is like getting the key to unlocking tense muscles. As long as the Qigong therapeutic masseur massages these adhesion points with corresponding massage techniques, the adhesion points will be separated quickly, the muscle tension will disappear immediately, and the pain and discomfort will disappear.
The scope of treatment by Qigong therapeutic massage
All the pains caused by abnormal tension of muscles and other soft tissues are within the scope of treatment, including: headache (including migraine), cervical pain (including neck stiffness), shoulder tightness or pain (including frozen shoulder), back tightness or pain, arm pain (including tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fingers numb and tingling), sciatica, and various diseases caused by strains of muscles and other soft tissues due to improper exercise, etc.
Muscular discomfort and the nature of pain
Essentially, all muscular discomfort and pain is caused by the obstruction of the flow of “Qi” energy. The severity of discomfort or pain depends on the degree of obstruction to the flow of Qi energy and the sensitivity of the location of the body to pain.
Like water and air in nature, the human body needs visible liquid substances (blood, etc.) and invisible "Qi energy" to operate normally to ensure its health. In nature, if the air circulation somewhere is not smooth, it is impossible to have a prosperous state, and it is very likely that all kinds of harmful things will breed. In the human body, if the flow of Qi is blocked, it will cause pain or discomfort (if it is in the internal organs, it will cause various internal organ diseases). Just as the flow of liquid substances in the body is non-stop, the flow of Qi energy in the body is also non-stop. But when the muscles are constantly in a state of swelling and tension for a long time, the flow of Qi energy is hindered, so that the energy amount flowing out of this muscle group is smaller than the energy amount flowing in, and a considerable part of the energy sockets gather in this muscle group, which causes the internal swelling and pressure to increase, thus causing discomfort or pain in the muscles. When this part is touched or squeezed, its internal pressure is increased, which intensifies the pain.
Several causes of muscle stiffness or pain
1. Fascial adhesions
When the muscles are in a working (contracted) state, the muscle fibers will become thicker, and the space between the muscle fibers and muscle bundles will become smaller, or in a state of close contact with each other. The normal use of the muscles should be relaxed and moderate, so there will be no adhesion. For example, sticking two pieces of moistened paper together can easily separate them in a short time. But if they are stuck together for too long, it will be difficult to separate them without damage. The same is true for muscles. If the tension of the muscles lasts for too long, the fascia in the middle will form certain points of adhesion. When these attached muscles are used again, it will cause painful involvement. As an instinctive response to this kind of involvement pain, the surrounding muscles will become tense to protect the involvement point and avoid the pain caused by the involvement, thus making this local muscle stiff.
Most of the muscle stiffness in the neck, back, waist and arms are caused by this reason.
Some parts, usually the neck, armpits, and buttocks, have tight muscles and stiffness, which can compress or pinch nerves, causing numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers, as well as sciatica.
This kind of illness is most common among people who work in the office.
2. Tendon is excessively stretched
Prolonged or excessive stretching can cause muscle pain between the bones and the tendons especially in the joints areas. Headaches, frozen shoulders, wrist pain (carpal tunnel syndrome), pain at the waist and pelvis, hip joints, and knees are mostly caused by this reason.
When the tendon is stretched, the part of the muscle that is connected to the bone is instinctively in a state of opposing contraction. However, if you stretch for a long time, this part of the muscles will become numb, lose their memory, and no longer listen to the brain’s relaxation instructions. They will always be in a state of tension and contraction. Even though the stretching is over, they will not relax, but agglomerate into lumps, and clump together. In fact, the pain is also caused by the adhesion of the fascia.
This kind of over stretching is unconscious. For example, when you work at your desk or use a computer, the tendons of the neck and occipital bone, shoulder joint and wrist are all in a state of tension. If the time is too long, the related muscles will easily lose their ability to relax and gather together, still stretching the tendons.
The other is sports strain. Pain deep in the waist, buttocks, hips, etc., as well as knee pain, is very common in some sports. This is due to the overstretching of the tendons in these areas for a long time, which makes the muscles lose the ability to respond instinctively.
3. Sports strain
Excessive time or super-intensity or improper exercise can cause muscle injury and pain.
4. Drug side effects
Some drugs may act on certain nerves, causing certain muscles to be in constant tension and muscle pain.