Date of Award

1994

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Thomas Mohr

Keywords

Acupressure; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Abstract

Acupressure is a technique that has been used for thousands of years in China, and has gained popularity in the United States since the 1960's. Research shows a high correlation between trigger points and acupuncture points, though discovered independently and labeled differently, the same phenomenon of can be explained by the same neural mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of Chinese medicine and its use in physical therapy. First, a literature review consisting of a brief history of Chinese medicine and traditional Western medicine is compared. Next, the results of a survey distributed to 47 graduate physical therapy schools in 47 different states is discussed. The survey questions ask each school about their curriculum and attitudes toward Chinese medicine. It is through the knowledge of basic Chinese medicine concepts and methods, that therapists will become more aware of these alternative treatments, in hopes to improve patient care.

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