Foot Stepping: A Traditional Therapy for Back and Waist Disorders

December 2, 2023

The foot massage method, as the name suggests, is a massage therapy that uses the feet to step on certain parts of the patient's body to treat certain diseases. It is mainly used for back and waist disorders, such as lumbar fasciitis, soft tissue injuries in the waist, sciatica, lumbar disc herniation, and thoracolumbar facet joint disorder. This method is a folk massage technique that has been passed down from ancient times to the present, and is widely used in Central China and North China.

[Operating Method]

1. Preparation before stepping

1. Traction frame: The traction frame is made of 6mm steel pipe. The production method is as follows: 2 steel pipes of 200cm in length, 4 steel pipes of 40cm in length, welded into a trapezoid shape (3 lower pipes spaced 20cm apart, 1 upper pipe), and 2 steel pipes of 35cm in length, welded on both sides of the front of the trapezoidal frame, 20cm below the top, as a crossbar. On the outer end of the crossbar, weld a 12cm in diameter and 80cm in length steel reinforcement at an inclined angle with the trapezoidal frame on both sides. Then, weld a steel pipe with an outer layer on the inside of the inclined angle as a handrail, and weld two fixed hooks at appropriate positions on the upper front of the traction frame to fix the traction frame.

2. Stepping bed: The structure of the stepping bed is similar to a bunk bed, but with two 2.54cm steel pipes replacing the angle steel on the upper bed. The steel pipes are slightly skewed at both ends and drilled with two holes to fix them to the bed. This is where the doctor can hold onto while stepping, in order to reduce the pressure on the patient from the doctor's weight.

3. Equipment on the stepping bed: 4 buckwheat husk pillows measuring 70cm in length, 50cm in width, and 10cm in thickness; one piece of white cloth measuring 160cm in length and 80cm in width; a pair of white cloth socks. Usage: For general spinal lesions, the three pillows are placed flat on the bed; if there is a spinal joint misalignment or lumbar disc herniation, the two pillows are stacked together and divided into two groups, placed flat on the bed with a distance of 25cm between the two groups, in order to facilitate waist shaking, etc.

2. Foot stepping acupoint method

1. Acupoint method for the bladder meridian of the foot: The doctor faces forward with hands holding the side bars of the stepping bed, uses the thumbs to press the patient's Kunlun, Chengshan, Weizhong, Yinmen, Chengfu, Huantiao, Dachangshu, Shenshu, Zhishi, Pishu, Ganshu, Xinyu, Feishu, and Dazhu acupoints in sequence, each acupoint for 5 seconds. This method has the effects of regulating the function of the internal organs, unblocking the meridians, promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, promoting yang and eliminating obstruction, relieving spasms and pain, and relieving muscle knots.

2. Acupoint method for the Governing Vessel: The doctor faces forward with both hands holding the side bars of the stepping bed, raises the body, uses the thumbs to press on the toes of both feet, starting from the Dazhui acupoint of the patient and arranging the acupoints of both feet from front to back. The doctor applies moderate pressure and low frequency, moving backward while pressing, and stops at the Changqiang acupoint, repeating this process 6 times. This method has the effects of promoting the smooth flow of the meridians, nourishing the kidney essence, replenishing the spiritual marrow, awakening the brain and calming the mind, strengthening the waist and knees, promoting yang and eliminating obstruction, and lubricating and smoothing the facet joints.

3. Pushing and rubbing the Governing Vessel and Huatuo's Spinal Squeeze method: The doctor faces forward with both hands holding the side bars of the stepping bed, and the left foot steps on the patient's back.

Share

Everyone Is Watching

icon

Hot Picks