Issue 2-22, 2023

Original article

https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2023-22-2-112-119

Changes in Microcirculation During Gua Sha Massage

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1 ORCIDAnastasia D. Dubinskaya 1 ORCIDOlga V. Yurova 2 ORCID Dmitry A. Rogatkin 2 ORCIDPolina A. Glazkova 2 ORCIDAlexey A. Glazkov 2 ORCIDKsenia A. Krasulina 2 ORCIDDarya S. Selivanova 3 ORCIDOlga Yu. Vvedenskaya 3Yaroslav V. Shiverskikh

1National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology
2Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute
3Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Clinic “REVITONICA”


ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION. Gua Sha massage is widely used in medicine and cosmetology. However, to date, there are very little data to quantitatively demonstrate changes in tissue perfusion due to Gua Sha massage.

AIM. To evaluate the dynamics of perfusion indices in the forehead area after a five-minute Gua Sha massage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. 15 apparently healthy women, median age 49 [42.5; 49] years, body mass index 21.6 [19.1; 23.9] kg/m2, were enrolled in the study. Perfusion indices were assessed via the incoherent optical fluctuation flowmetry (IOFF) method using a new prototype diagnostic device Vasotest. Perfusion was assessed before and within 60 minutes following the massage.

RESULTS. The study showed a significant increase in perfusion after the massage procedure by an average of 1.85 times compared to the baseline level (from 6.7 [3.7; 7.9] to 12.4 [10.4; 14.4] (p < 0.001). Further, within 35–40 minutes after the massage, there was a smooth exponential decrease in the perfusion index from to baseline values (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS. The dynamics of perfusion changes due to Gua Sha massage have been quantitatively registered, which broadens scientific views on the role of Gua Sha massage in increasing blood supply to tissues. In the future, individual assessment of perfusion can be used to customize the tactics for the procedure.


КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: массаж гуа-ша, микроциркуляция, скорость кровотока, капилляротрофическая недостаточность, перфузия

FUNDING: The study had no sponsorship.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors declare no apparent or potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

FOR CITATION:

Dubinskaya А.D., Yurova O.V., Rogatkin D.A., Glazkova P.A., Glazkov A.A., Krasulina K.A., Selivanova D.S., Vvedenskaya O.Yu., Shiverskikh Ya.V. Changes in the Facial Area Microcirculation During Guasha Massage. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2023; 22(2):112-119. https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2023-22-2-112-119 (In Russ.).


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This is an open article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by the National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology.