Tui Na Evidence by Use
What systematic reviews and trials found for tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage) in low back pain, knee arthritis, headache, digestion and children's conditions, with evidence strength and limits.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Scope
Tui na is Chinese therapeutic massage, also written tuina. This page reports research by health problem. For what tui na is and what a session involves, see Tui Na. For massage research in general see Massage Evidence by Goal.A note on the research: many tui na trials are from China, some are published only in Chinese, and a person receiving massage knows they received it. One review of tui na for irritable bowel syndrome found that all of its trials were published in Chinese and that risk of bias was generally unclear. [1] Treat the findings below as hypotheses to test, not as settled results. Nothing here suggests replacing medical care.
Evidence table
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic non-specific low back pain | 15 trials (1,390 people): significant effect on pain, evidence quality low; only six studies reported adverse events, none serious [2]. A 2026 review of 21 trials (1,612 people) also found low-certainty benefit [3] | Promising but limited |
| Knee osteoarthritis | One crossover trial of 96 people, tui na vs health education; joint pain reduced, no serious adverse events [4] | Promising but limited (one trial, comparator was education only) |
| Tension-type headache | 7 studies (1,228 people); low methodological quality, conclusion to be considered cautiously [5] | Insufficient evidence |
| Cervical vertigo | 9 trials; low-quality evidence of higher effectiveness rate vs other treatments [6] | Insufficient evidence |
| Functional dyspepsia | 14 trials (1,128 people); low-certainty improvement in overall symptoms [7] | Insufficient evidence |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | 8 trials; not shown to beat routine treatment for IBS-diarrhea alone [1] | Insufficient evidence |
| Bedwetting in children | 12 trials (1,007 children) [8] and 9 trials (685 children) [9]; seen as an add-on, not a replacement | Insufficient evidence |
| Constipation in children | 16 trials (1,387 children); high variation between studies [10] | Insufficient evidence |
Back pain
Two reviews pooled trials of tui na for chronic non-specific low back pain. The 2023 review reported a significant effect on pain, with low evidence quality, and no significant gain in quality of life. [2] The newer review reported greater pain relief and function with low certainty and no significant difference in serious adverse events. [3] A broader 2015 review of TCM for neck and low back pain said the efficacy of tui na was unknown because no direct evidence was obtained at that time. [11] Label: promising but limited, with a placebo and expectation caveat.Knee osteoarthritis
A 96-person crossover trial found tui na reduced joint pain and had no serious adverse events, but it compared tui na with health education, which cannot test whether the touch itself matters. [4]Children
Two meta-analyses on bedwetting concluded tui na is promising as added treatment [8], but that it cannot completely replace desmopressin or behavioral treatment. [9] For constipation the authors noted large differences between studies. [10] Please see TCM Pediatrics and ask a pediatrician about persistent symptoms.Qualifications
Training and rules for tui na differ by country and state, and we did not find a regulator page we could read that governs tui na on its own. See How to Choose a TCM Practitioner and NCCAOM Certification and US Licensing. We do not list or recommend practitioners.Frequently asked questions
Does tui na work for back pain?
Reviews report pain relief, but the evidence quality is low. [2]
Is tui na safe?
The trials that reported adverse events found none serious. [2]
Can tui na replace medicine for a child's bedwetting?
No. Reviewers say it cannot completely replace standard treatments. [9]
Is tui na better than regular massage?
We found no source that compared it directly with ordinary massage for most uses; the cervical vertigo review compared it with a type of massage therapy and judged the evidence low. [6]
How many sessions do trials use?
We did not extract this, because it varies and we do not give dosing.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
Reviews report no serious adverse events in the trials that reported any. [2] That is not the same as no risk, and only some studies reported adverse events at all. Tell the practitioner about osteoporosis, blood thinners, recent injury, cancer, pregnancy or skin disease, and see Massage Safety and Contraindications. Stop and seek care for new numbness, weakness, severe pain, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
References
- A systematic review of Tuina for irritable bowel syndrome: recommendations for future trials. Complement Ther Med 2020. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Efficacy and safety of Tuina for chronic nonspecific low back pain: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Huang B, Xie H, et al. Tuina for chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med 2026. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Liu et al. Efficacy and safety of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, controlled, and crossover design clinical trial. Front Med 2023. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Fan Z, Di A, et al. The effectiveness and safety of Tuina for tension-type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2021. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Tuina for cervical vertigo: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2020. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Dai N, He Q, et al. Therapeutic massage/Tuina for treatment of functional dyspepsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Qual Life Res 2023. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Tong et al. Tuina for enuresis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Public Health 2022. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Chen X, Sun WJ, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the efficacy of Tuina for nocturnal enuresis in children. Front Pharmacol 2024. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Shi Q, Chen B, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of tuina as an adjuvant therapy for functional constipation in children. Healthcare (Basel) 2026. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
- Traditional Chinese medicine for neck pain and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2015. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract).
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.