What is the difference between the effects of acupuncture and massage?

The core difference lies in the depth of action and the indications it specializes in. Acupuncture can penetrate the skin directly to deep acupoints, nerve nodes and even adhering soft tissues. It is good at regulating stubborn chronic diseases, neurological problems and deep pain. Massage mainly acts on superficial muscles, fascia and skin meridians, and is more suitable for instantly relaxing muscles, relieving surface strain and improving local circulation.

I have been doing physical therapy for seven or eight years, and I have encountered the most patients with shoulder and neck discomfort. I can explain the difference between the two types: Aunt Zhang who came last month has suffered from frozen shoulder for more than three months, and her husband has to help her put on a pullover. I gave her three needles on her shoulder and a local Ashi point, combined with an infrared baking lamp, and she was able to lift her gloves and clothes by herself after four times. This kind of deep joint capsule adhesion is difficult to penetrate with the intensity of ordinary massage. It can only loosen the superficial muscles after kneading for a long time, and the effect will be much slower. Last week, there was a young girl who had just graduated. After working on her graduation project for a week, her shoulders and neck were as hard as bricks. It hurt even when she turned her head. It was an acute muscle spasm. I pressed her trapezius muscles and the nodules near the shoulder well for 20 minutes. After moving for a few times, she was surprised to say that most of the pain was gone. In this case, you can say that acupuncture will be effective, but there is a tingling sensation. The massage is gentler and the relaxation comes faster.

Nowadays, there are many different opinions in the industry. Masters who are good at deep relaxation massage say that as long as the techniques are in place, they can still touch the deep fascial adhesions, and the effect is no worse than acupuncture. Some acupuncturists also propose that the whole body regulation effect brought by meridian sensing is the result of massage. It is very difficult to achieve the goal of friction. After doing it for so long, I feel that there is no need to distinguish between high and low. The two are complementary, just like watering flowers. A watering can is enough to water the surface soil, but a long-spout pot is needed to water the root system. The suitable scenes are just different.

Ordinary people don’t have to worry too much when making their own choices. If you just have to work overtime recently and your body is tight and your muscles are sore, and you want to relax and relieve fatigue, you can just choose a regular massage. The tingling and numbing comfort cannot be compared with acupuncture.； If the pain has been recurring for several months but cannot be rooted out, or if it is a problem involving nerve regulation or organ regulation such as facial paralysis, old dysmenorrhea, or intractable migraine, acupuncture will be more targeted and the effect will be longer-lasting. By the way, here’s a little reminder. No matter which one you choose, you must find a regular institution. Don’t go to a massage parlor that uses random massages. The massages will hurt you for days and can easily cause soft tissue damage. For acupuncture, you need to find a doctor with professional qualifications. Don’t just go to a health center and do it randomly.