Which one is better to do first, acupuncture or massage

In fact, there is no absolute optimal order. In most relaxation and conditioning scenarios, massage first and then acupuncture will provide a better experience and smoother effect. However, it must be adjusted flexibly according to the specific situation. There are no rigid rules that must be followed.

The patient I treated last week, Aunt Zhang, who has been carrying her grandson all year round, is a typical example. When she came in, her trapezius muscles were as hard as half a brick, and she could turn her head up to 45 degrees. She said that the needles inserted directly in other places were so painful that she still felt stiff in her shoulders and neck after two hours of relief. This time I used the rolling method on her shoulders and back for 15 minutes to loosen the taut muscle fibers on the surface and loosen the adhesion of the fascia. When I inserted the needles into the Jianjing and Tianzong acupoints, she did not hide much. She only said that the acupuncture points were swollen. After leaving the needles for 20 minutes, she could turn her head to a normal angle. She said that this time it was much more comfortable than the last time.

Of course, not everyone is suitable for this sequence. I met several young men with acute lumbar sprains a while ago. After moving heavy objects, their waists slipped and they couldn't even stand. The pain made them sweat when they touched their waists. At this time, let alone massage, let them turn over. His whole body was exhausted, so he pricked the Houxi point on his hand and the pain point in his waist first. After acupuncture for half a minute, he slowly tried to twist his waist. The pain was reduced by more than half, and then he was asked to relax the spasmodic muscles in his waist. He was able to cooperate, and his recovery speed was much faster than the massage first.

If it is just daily health care and there is no obvious pain or muscle tension, then it all depends on personal preference. A few of my regular customers like to prick the conditioning acupuncture points on the abdomen first, and then wait for the qi and blood to warm up before doing a full-body massage. They say that even the hands and feet feel warmer than usual after the massage, but the effect is not compromised.

After working in this business for a long time, you will know that there are no sequence standards that must be followed. In the end, it all depends on the patient's condition, how comfortable and effective it is, and there is no need to worry about the order.