The finger tactile measurement system quantifies tactile pressure on the finger using a highly sensitive electrosurgical pressure sensor, with software displaying and accurately recording the pressure data and video in real time. Two analysis modules unify the data processing for thumb tracking and conditioning during Tuina.

Tui Na or massage therapy alleviates symptoms related to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, precise, repeatable, standardized instructions for Tuina manipulation are lacking. This study establishes IDD model rabbits induced by fibrous ring puncture, creates targeted Tuina stimulation protocols at the acupuncture points in the lumbar region, and describes in detail the operation methods and requirements of kneading, pointing, and flicking. New Zealand male white rabbits (n = 15) were selected and randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, and a Tuina group. The rabbits in the model group and the Tuina group were molded by fibrous ring puncture; the rabbits in the model group were only immobilized on the operating table without treatment. In contrast, the Tuina group used the "8N/10N, 30 cycles/min" prescription for kneading, pointing, and flicking to perform the intervention, using tactile sensory aids to monitor and regulate the intensity of the Tuina operation. Imaging diagnosis and pathological tests were used to assess the effect of Tuina in rabbits, and the results showed improved imaging features and significantly lowered pathology scores of lumbar disc degeneration in the Tuina group compared to the model group (P < 0.01). Targeted Tuina in the lumbar region may be beneficial in the alleviation of lumbar disc degeneration, but further verification is needed. By regularly performing Tuina and recording the mechanical information involved enables reproducible manipulation prescriptions and helps to observe the basic features of the underlying mechanism of Tuina for IDD.

The age of onset of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is becoming increasingly younger, with studies showing¹ that the prevalence of IDD is approximately 35% of subjects aged 20 to 39 years involving at least one lumbar level, and all individuals aged 60 to 80 years have IDD. The deleterious effects associated with IDD are widespread, and the disability is found to be positively associated with the degree of IDD in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies^2,3. Although conventional treatments such as bed rest, functional exercise, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and surgery are widely used, they have had limited success in relieving pain⁴. Therefore, we emphasize the need for new treatment strategies to prevent and treat this disease and its co-morbid symptoms. Complementary and alternative medicine approaches (CAM) have been welcomed by a wide variety of patients with IDD, for instance⁵, in the United States alone, 44% of the population used at least one CAM in 1997, the most common symptom being low back pain with IDD and its associated pathology as the main cause. In fact, patients who are dissatisfied with the use of conventional treatment for IDD often turn to CAM such as Tui Na or Tuina.

Tuina therapy has a long history and is widely accepted as an effective method for restoring tissue function, relieving pain and tissue stress, and promoting overall health. According to Wu⁶, the first step in treating IDD disease is to use conservative approaches such as chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. Chiropractic or massage (60% of CAM) is a licensed treatment and is the most commonly used of the many CAM therapeutic options in the United States. A growing body of evidence⁷ has confirmed the considerable clinical benefits of chiropractic or massage for the treatment of lower back pain, not only in terms of safety but also in terms of significantly reducing costs after initial treatment compared to other CAM options such as acupuncture. The 2007 guidelines of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Pain Society (APS)⁸, as well as related systematic evaluations and reviews^9,10, recommended chiropractic as a nonpharmacologic therapy option for acute, subacute, or chronic low back pain. The findings of a 2017 retrospective study on the benefits and harms of nonpharmacologic therapy for lower back pain¹¹ were also consistent with previous guidelines recommendations. The review found no serious harm and some evidence of high-quality, low-risk bias for the efficacy of chiropractic and massage for lower back pain. A recent study¹² found that US adults with disc herniation receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation were less likely to undergo discectomy compared to those receiving other cares. Tuina or massage as the primary therapy for IDD can reduce pain and improve skeletal muscles function in the short term by relaxing spastic muscles in the lower back, improving the abnormal anatomical position of the lumbar spine, reducing symptoms of nerve compression and lumbar disc pressure, and increasing internal spine stability¹³, and can also show good benefits in terms of improving symptoms, signs, and pain scores¹⁴.

Physical stimulation therapies, such as Tuina, can alleviate symptoms related to IDD, but one of the most significant challenges in conducting research is the lack of reproducible prescriptions for Tuina and the absence of uniform normative standards for Tuina treatment, which limits progress in the field and is not conducive to scientifically assessing the effects of Tuina therapies. More importantly, the lack of standardized treatment is also less conducive to studying the type and properties of Tuina in relation to the principles of therapeutic activity and mechanism. Some studies have reported intervention frequency but have ignored the possibility of a dose-response relationship for Tuina therapy; that is, there may be an optimal amplitude, duration, and frequency of Tuina that produces maximum recovery of muscle and joint function¹⁵. As a result, treatment parameters should include the type of massage, duration, and intensity or level of pressure or depth attained¹⁶. To address these issues, we used a tactile force measuring finger guard to quantify and monitor the magnitude and frequency of force during Tuina manipulation in this study. The measuring systems and software (see Table of Materials) originated from the Humanoid Robotics Research Laboratory at Harvard University and were developed with the support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Army Research Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and are currently the most accurate devices for quantifying human touch. Depending on the needs of the field environment, the user can choose to communicate data, observe and record tactile changes either wired or wirelessly.

TCM offers an alternative treatment and thought process for patients affected by IDD. We based the protocol presented here on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) meridian theory¹⁷, which states that proximal acupuncture points have a therapeutic effect on the affected area. TCM also indicates that the bladder meridian is located mainly on both sides of the paraspinal column, and its circulation location is closely related to the lumbar region, which is also closely related to the symptoms of lumbar pain, leg numbness, and leg pain that occur in patients with IDD. The bladder meridian is often used as the preferred meridian for the treatment of IDD in Chinese medicine clinics. Ying¹⁸ examined 240 patients with IDD who met the criteria for the exploration of force-sensitive acupuncture points¹⁹, and then determined whether these were force-sensitive points based on the presence or absence of the sensitization characteristics of the point. The force-sensitive acupuncture points in IDD were primarily distributed in the bladder meridian (41.37%). According to the findings of a data mining study²⁰, acupuncture points are mostly distributed in meridians that follow the areas of the pain-prone areas of the lower back and legs, i.e., primarily on the bladder meridian. As a result, in this study, we limited the treatment range by selecting three points near the lumbar vertebrae, Pishu (BL20), Sanjiaoshu (BL22), and Shenshu (BL23), as the operation sites for the stimulation focus in conjunction with the distribution of acupuncture points in rabbits with reference to the guidelines of the experimental acupuncture²¹.

The Animal Experimental Ethics Committee at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine reviewed and authorized all study protocols (approval number CUTCM-2021-23), and all operations of this protocol followed the committee's guidelines. New Zealand male young and strong white rabbits (n = 15) were selected weighing 2.5 ± 0.2 kg, provided by Chengdu Dashuo Experimental Animal Co., Ltd., experimental animal license number: SCXK (Su) 2017-0002. Standard animal housing conditions were 20-26 °C, 50%-70% humidity, alternating 12-h light and dark cycles, free diet, and water intake. The blank group included rabbits without any processing (no surgical incision and puncture of the IVD).

1. Establishment of the IDD rabbit model

NOTE: The following protocols were used to establish the IDD model.

1. Ensure the rabbits in the model and Tuina groups were fixed on an autopsy table and restrained in a prone position. Shave the right lower lumbar spine (the surgical area and prepare for skin treatment.
2. Anesthetize the rabbits intravenously at the ear margins using 3% pentobarbital sodium solution at a rate of 1.2 mL/kg, depending on their body weight. Pay attention to the rabbit's respiratory rate and eye pupil changes during anesthesia and push the drug as slowly as possible.
3. Place the anesthetized rabbit onto the sterile operating table in a prone position with the spine squared and the right side of the rabbit facing the operator.
4. Disinfect the skin preparation with iodine and then use a scalpel to make an incision 3 cm from the median spine line, approximately 5 cm in length. Pluck away the skin, fascia, and muscles, avoid obvious blood vessels, and feel the fingers in the direction of the spine to reach the lumbar vertebral segments.
5. Visualize the right segment of the lumbar spine with the aid of a light source. If any oozing blood obscures the view, remove it with a sterile dry cotton ball. Select a 16 G bone puncture needle (see Table of Materials). After removing the inner core of the puncture needle, wrap the end of the needle of the outer needle with a folded sterile gauze block and place it against the palm of the puncturing surgeon's hand.
6. Hold the needle in place by pinching the body with five fingers, and then vertically puncture the right side of the disc in the L3-L6 lumbar segment, respectively.
7. After the successful puncture, rotate the needle in a circle once, leave for 10 s, and then withdraw. After inserting the insert back into the puncture needle, push out a white gelatinous nucleus pulposus tissue.
8. Suture the fascial and cortical layers, and disinfect the incision. Administer a dose of 400,000 U/animal of potassium penicillin intramuscularly for 7 days to prevent postoperative infection.
9. Perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and obtain images to determine whether the model is successful. Perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations using a SPEC 0.35-T imager. Acquire T2-weighted images (T2WIs) in the sagittal plane with the following settings: fast spin echo (SE) sequence with time to repetition (TR) of 3100 ms, time to echo (TE) of 115 ms, section thickness of 3 mm, and gap of 0.8 mm.

2. Using the finger guard

1. Sterilize the operator's hand and carefully place the finger guard on the right hand. Adjust the gloves so that the sensor hidden in the finger belly of the finger guard can face the operator's finger belly for better information acquisition.
2. Insert the end of the sensor on the finger guard into the interface of the circuit board and make sure that the connection is stable so as not to interrupt the transmission of information during operation.
3. Use the universal serial bus (USB)-C type cable to connect the computer to the input port of the circuit board of the finger sleeve and adjust the position of the transmission cable so that it will not break away from the contact during operation or the operator will not get tied up.
4. Open the software on the computer system. Ensure to connect the finger guard to the computer before opening the software.
5. In the Sensor Range (N) selection box on the left-hand side of the software interface, click on the Down button and 10N to limit the sensor's measurement range. When it is ready, it is possible to see a certain force on the dynamic monitoring chart: the contact pressure between the operator's finger and the finger guard. Click on Tare on the system to zero the force.
6. Keep the operator's force constant so the force curve remains at the desired value.
7. Monitor the force curve and adjust the force level according to the curve change.
8. At the end of the operation, click on the Export Chart Date on the software to export the information table, which reflects the force levels for each time period.

3. Tuina operation methods

1. In order to avoid errors caused by differences in proficiency, accuracy, and intensity of the acupuncture points, appoint the same person for all Tuina interventions.
   NOTE: The operator must be a trained practitioner who has been practicing Tuina for at least 5 years.
2. Gently place the operator's left hand on the back of the rabbit's shoulder and hold it in place to prevent the rabbit's torso from struggling and moving during the procedure.
   1. If the rabbit becomes nervous and moves around during the procedure, briefly calm down the rabbit before the Tuina operation. Use the right hand to operate, trying to keep the shoulders, waist, and wrists as relaxed as possible.
      NOTE: The shoulders should hang naturally, the elbows should be naturally flexed, and the wrists should be flexible and not tense and stiff.
3. Kneading and pointing of the acupuncture points. Knead the Pishu (BL20), Sanjiaoshu (BL22), and Shenshu (BL23) points on the left side of the spine. Place the belly of the thumb on the acupuncture point and the remaining fingers naturally on the contralateral muscular skin to anchor the thumb and the remaining four fingers in the gesture.
   NOTE: Positioning of acupuncture points:
   BL20: 1.5 cun(approximately 15 mm) lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 11^th thoracic vertebra.
   BL22: 1.5 cun (approximately 15 mm) lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 1^st lumbar vertebra.
   ​BL23: 1.5 cun (approximately 15 mm) lateral to the posterior midline on the lower border of the spinous process of the 2^nd lumbar vertebra.
4. Press the point once and knead it 3 times for one cycle. During the kneading operation, suspend and flex the wrist, with the forearm actively applying force, driving the thumb to apply rhythmic, circular pressure to the acupuncture point with a force of 8 N and a frequency of 30 cycles/min.
5. For the point-pressing operation, place the thumb perpendicular to the skin of the acupuncture point and slowly increase the force to 10 N. Then press until the skin of the white rabbit is depressed by 0.5 cm before slowly decreasing the pressure. Perform this action on each acupuncture point for 1 min.
6. Flick the erector spinae muscles.
   1. Flick the vertical spinal muscles on the left lower back. Place the fingers on the lateral aspect of the erector spinae muscles, and place the remaining four fingers s naturally on the opposite side, with appropriate pressure applied vertically to a depth of approximately 0.5 cm.
7. Relax the wrist and wrist joints, and use the force of the swinging arm to drive the thumb to the inner side of the muscle in a lateral plucking motion perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers, as if plucking a string. Pluck a muscle three times in a cycle, slowly moving the position from top to bottom. Ensure that the force is 10 N, and the frequency is 30 cycles/min, with 2 min for each side.
   NOTE: Plucking one muscle for a long time is not allowed.
8. Knead each side of the rabbit at the three acupuncture points and flick for 5 min, for a total of 10 min on both sides, once a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Take care to avoid the surgical incision when operating on the right side.
9. Be precise when searching for acupuncture points, preferably according to bony markings.
   NOTE: It is important to note that, unlike humans, the white rabbit has 7 lumbar vertebrae, and the position of the lumbar vertebrae segments can be viewed on the basis of the images, and that the lumbar vertebrae are different from the thoracic vertebrae to the touch. In addition, there is a distinct indentation at the acupuncture point of touch. Observing the white rabbit's condition during manipulation will also be helpful, as this will help when searching for the acupuncture point. When the correct acupuncture point is touched, the white rabbit's muscles will appear in a tense state.

Basic characteristics of the mechanical curve of Tuina operation
Figure 1 depicts the software screenshots recording in real-time the graphs of pressure data over time for the kneading, pointing, and flicking methods with corresponding first-order velocity characteristics during the Tuina intervention IDD model rabbits. The curve is not completely straight or conforms to a certain functional relationship because of the change in the reaction force of the rabbit's lumbar muscles during the operation. We can make adjustments according to the change of the curve in the software interface to make the force as close as possible to the standard line of the specified value.

Changes in MRI findings
White rabbits were subjected to VET-0.3 T MRI (see Table of Materials) to assess the morphological status of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Figure 2 shows the sagittal plane slices of each of the three groups. The MRI findings indicated good IVD status with a full nucleus pulposus, high signal, and a clear boundary between the nucleus pulposus and the fibrous ring in the blank group rabbits. The MRI images of the model group revealed early features of IVD degeneration, such as nucleus pulposus dehydration, low signal, fibrous ring rupture, and an unclear boundary between the nucleus pulposus and the fibrous ring, indicating that the modeling was successful. Nonetheless, there were still obvious fibrous ring fissures after the Tuina manipulation intervention, probably because the physical damage to the bone from fibrous ring rupture caused by mechanical puncture was more difficult to reverse. However, IVD degeneration was delayed, the nucleus pulposus recovered better, and the overall situation improved compared to the post-modeling period.

Intervertebral disc histomorphology
Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to examine the morphology of the IVD tissue in each group of rabbits, which revealed the following findings under a photon microscope.

Blank group (no surgical incision and puncture of the IVD), the fibrous ring cartilage in white rabbit IVD tissue was neat and regular, with clear boundaries between the fibrous ring and the nucleus pulposus, tight connections, and no interruptions. The shape of the nucleus pulposus was regular, and the cells within the nucleus pulposus were abundantly distributed and scattered throughout the intervertebral disc. The cartilage arrangement of the fibrous rings was disorganized and fractured in the IVD tissue in the model group (Figure 3, green arrow). The connections between the nucleus pulposus and the fibrous rings were interrupted and distinct. The shape of the nucleus pulposus was irregular, the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced (Figure 3, black arrow), the nucleus was disintegrated, the cell structure was lost, and the extracellular matrix was eosinophilic. After the Tuina intervention, the arrangement of the fibrous rings, the gap between the nucleus and the fibrous rings, the shape of the nucleus, and the state of the extracellular matrix of the IVD were significantly improved.

The histomorphological changes of the disc were observed under light microscopy, and pathology was scored with reference to the Masuda²² criteria using a histological grading scale. The score is based on the condition of the fibrous rings, nucleus pulposus, and nucleus pulposus matrix, with higher scores indicating more severe degeneration, and was performed by an author trained in pathology who was unaware of the study. The results show that the pathology score of the model group was significantly higher compared with the blank group (P < 0.01, n = 5). The pathology score of IDD rabbits was significantly lower in the Tuina group compared with the model group (P < 0.01, n = 5, Figure 3D). The results show that Tuina can significantly improve the pathological morphology of the disc in the early stages of degeneration, promote the repair of the annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, and extracellular matrix, and possibly slow down the progression of IDD.

Figure 1: Software recordings in Tuina operation. (A) Pointing and kneading at the three acupuncture points were performed by pointing once to apply pressure from relaxation to 8 N gradually and then kneading 3 times. (B) The pointing and flicking method on the rabbit's erector spinae muscles was performed by gradually applying pressure from relaxation to 10 N for one pointing press and then flicking the muscles 3 times. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 2: MRI results in the blank, model, and Tuina groups. (A) In the blank group, the size and shape of each IVD are similar, the height and thickness are essentially the same, the IVD signal is high and bright, and the boundary is clear. During the modeling process, the IVDs of the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/L6 segments are chosen for perforation. (B) A fibrous ring tear, cartilage endplate fissure formation, water loss in the nucleus pulposus, extremely low signal, indistinct demarcation between the nucleus pulposus and the fibrous ring, and a slight decrease in intervertebral height are noticeable in the model group. (C) After the Tuina intervention, the punctured IVD recovered significantly more than before the intervention, but the signal remains slightly lower than that of the blank group, the fissure of the cartilage end plate shows a tendency for healing, and the size and shape of the L5/L6 nucleus pulposus are smaller than that of the blank group. Scan layer thickness: 3 mm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 3: Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining results in the blank, model, and Tuina groups. (A) IVD of white rabbits in the blank group. The morphology of the fibrous rings and medullary nuclei is intact and without abnormalities. (B) HE staining in the model group showed the disorganized structure of the fibrous rings (green arrows), reduced myeloid cells and extracellular matrix (black arrows), and marked inflammatory cell infiltration. (C) HE staining after the Tuina intervention. The demarcation between the fibrous ring and the nucleus pulposus is clearer, with a structural disruption (black arrow) and a reduction in myeloid cells (green arrow), which is significantly improved compared to before. (D) The Tuina intervention significantly reduced disc pathology scores, and the outcome data are expressed as mean ± SD, n = 5. * Indicates P < 0.05 and ** indicates P < 0.01 when comparing the groups, Blank group (4.80 ± 0.837), Model group (11.40 ± 1.140), and Tuina group (5.80 ± 0.837). Scale bar = 100 µm Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Considering the structural and functional complexity of IVD, we chose rabbits as a constructive model for IDD disease, which is characterized by an abnormal cell-mediated response to progressive structural damage. Animal models of various species, such as rabbits, rats, and dogs, have been used to study changes in structural, biological, and biochemical properties during degeneration^23,24,25. However, when comparing the results to human tissues, the following important factors must be considered: anatomical and biomechanical differences, changes with aging, and the stress profile of the IVD²⁶. The load may be lower in small and medium-sized quadrupeds, such as white rabbits, but the IVD is much lower, and the intradiscal pressure may be similar²⁷. Furthermore, as in humans, the biochemical composition of the IVD changes with aging, with changes in fibrous rings, chondrocyte metabolism, and proteoglycan secretion²⁸. As a result, using the rabbit IDD model in a pilot preclinical study may be both relevant and cost-effective²⁶. Furthermore, the use of an animal model, such as the rabbit, is easier to control the force applied. It has more physical advantages in terms of Tuina maneuverability than a rat model.

In this study, the punctured fiber ring method²⁷ was used for modeling. It is widely assumed that various factors such as age, genetics, and mechanical stimulation influence degenerative changes in IVD, with mechanical stimulation playing an important role in degenerative changes in IVD^29,30. Some studies have also shown that potential factors such as mechanical stress induce two mechanisms, apoptosis and cell-cell senescence^31,32. The MRI results revealed early degenerative features such as rupture of the annulus fibrosus, dehydration, and indistinct boundaries of the nucleus pulposus fibrosus, as well as pathological changes such as disorganization of the annulus fibrosus, apoptotic necrosis, and reduction of the nucleus pulposus cells, and reduction of the extracellular matrix in the model group. The characteristic changes of IDD were fully revealed by the MRI images and pathological staining of HE, indicating that our modeling was effective.

Physical stimulation techniques such as Tuina are effective and safe, and no surgical incisions were opened or infected due to the manipulation in this demonstration. During the intervention, the white rabbits did not demonstrate pain behaviors, were quiet, and appeared comfortable. Furthermore, as the number of treatments increased, the mental state, amount of exercise and diet, and glossiness of the fur essentially returned to pre-degeneration level, and excremental properties continued to improve. Eventually, all basic physiological conditions were essentially equal to those before the IVD was punctured. However, these fundamental characteristics are only assessed by observation, and future studies are expected to include a quantitative evaluation.

Tuina manipulation is delivered to the recipient tissue via the practitioner's fingers, palms, or other body parts, and the mechanical loads loaded therein have not been well controlled or measured in most prior studies. Although an experienced Tuina practitioner is believed to be able to understand tissue lesions or dysfunction simply through touch and feel and can adjust the load and frequency of manipulation accordingly, this practice is usually based primarily on the practitioner's experience and the criteria for manipulative changes in the process are not well described or explained. Furthermore, the application of variations in Tuina movements and the resulting effects are largely based on clinical experience that is difficult to define and measure, and given the variability as well as temporal differences, synthesizing data on the frequency, size, and duration of Tuina into definitive conclusions from case series or from randomized controlled trials becomes a major challenge, leading to a very limited body of supporting evidence³³. The use of standardized and quantifiable technology-assisted systems for evidence-based research has become an urgent need to define the mechanisms underlying Tuina therapy³⁴ better. Furthermore, future studies should use Tuina operation on subject tissues that can be quantified by loading parameters, such as the magnitude, duration, and frequency of contact force or stress, as well as the necessary description of the cause when manipulating changes, to describe mechanical transduction effects and mechanisms of action more accurately.

To assist the operator in maintaining constant force and frequency throughout the intervention, the finger guard provides a reproducible method using tactile force measurement during the Tuina manipulation. One study¹⁵ suggested an ideal protocol combining size, frequency, and duration, such as 0.5 Hz, 10 N, and 15 min, that produced the greatest recovery from muscle damage. It was also discovered that the greatest recovery from the peak isometric musculoskeletal torque was primarily produced by higher force and frequency conditions (10 N and 0.5 Hz). The Tuina operation was configured as an 8 N kneading operation (preoperative for light knead cycle relaxing), a 10 N flicking operation (intensity treatment concentrating on improving muscles torque) with 30 cycles/min (0.5 Hz) for 10 min, and this treatment parameter is the key to this study protocol. Throughout the kneading and flicking cycle, lateral forces were generated, which also resulted in a mechanical transduction effect. Certain Tuina activities, such as kneading, have been suggested to have positive benefits because they promote local circulation, which is mostly dependent on transverse forces parallel to the underlying vessels³⁵. It is recommended that future studies be refined to increase the feedback level of the test system to elaborate on the effects of lateral and compressive force. In addition, a variety of Tuina techniques is used in the clinical setting, including vibration, percussion, joint mobility flexion, and extension. Each of these techniques achieves a particular efficacy through various combinations of compressive, lateral, axial, or distal tension forces. The specific effects of the various manipulation techniques and the connection to efficacy in IDD need to be further investigated. After refining the above objectives, it is necessary to test and draw up similar prescriptions in the clinical situation, such as the effective strength for use in humans, which is not quite consistent with that in animals.

In this experimental study, Tuina appeared to produce beneficial histological disc changes in IDD model rabbits, but the sample size is limited, and further validation is needed. It is crucial to elucidate the factors defining the relationship between Tuina maneuvers and mechanisms and their outcomes in order to better apply appropriate assistive technology combined with the practitioner's experience to improve prescriptions for Tuina interventions that are more effective and reproducible in clinical and animal studies. In conclusion, this study describes in detail the operative prescription of a Tuina intervention using IDD model rabbits that applies kneading, pointing, and flicking methods with the assistance of a tactile force-measuring finger guard. Our study validates the efficacy of Tuina and advocates for the need to standardize and quantify operative information in future Tuina research.

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests to disclose.

This study was supported by (1) National Natural Science Foundation of China (82004497); (2) Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2023YFS0323); (3) Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Project for Undergraduates' Research and Practice Innovation Subjects (ky-2023014).