Tui-na, which means “push/pull-lift”, is Chinese manual therapy used for preventing and treating disease. Tui-na uses various manipulations applied to acupuncture points and meridians and/or special limb-stretching movements to bring the body into balance and prevent or treat diseases. Tui-na is used to regulate meridians, soothe joints and sinews, promote circulation of Qi and blood, balance the organs and strengthen the body’s resistance. These techniques of manual therapy have been successfully used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, arthritis, disk disease, nerve paralysis, generalized weakness and even internal medical problems.
The practice of Tui Na is quite comprehensive and involves a variety of modalities including acupressure, massage, physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation. One of the best aspects of Tui Na is the fact that not only can it be performed by a veterinarian and veterinary technician, but it can also be applied by the animal’s caretaker. This is important because at Guelph Animal Hospital, we firmly believe that the caretaker is an active and critical part of the team when it comes to the health and wellbeing of the pet. As such, we often educate our clients on basic Tui Na techniques so that they can continue the work at home, between visits, to better facilitate the healing and ongoing good health of their companion animal.
