First, induce skeletal muscle injury in rats using notexin. To perform therapy, place the rat on the experimental platform in a prone position. Cover its head with a black cloth to expose the gastrocnemius muscle.
Next, hold the massager and place the roller on the gastrocnemius muscle of the rat. Roll forward until the spring contacts the limit baffle. Then retract the force and return to its original position, thereby reciprocating movement.
Roll the massager at a speed of 140 rolls per minute. Perform each operation for three minutes for three consecutive days. Return the rats to the home cage after each treatment and fast for eight hours after the last treatment.
After Tuina treatment with the rolling massager, the morphology of muscle cells improved in the gastrocnemius muscle injured by notexin injection. As observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, fewer ruptured atrophic and necrotic cells and only a small number of inflammatory cells were observed as compared to the injured muscle. Also, the levels of skeletal muscle injury markers CK and FABP3 were analyzed using Eliza.
These markers were markedly decreased in the Tuina group compared to the notexin group, suggesting that Tuina can reduce damage to skeletal muscle.
