Development and Validation of a Cloak Shape Device for Sham Pediatric Tuina

Chinese pediatric Tuina has been practiced as an option for health promotion, including disease prevention and treatment, more than one thousand years ago (652 AD). Many of the acupoints adopted in Chinese pediatric Tuina are located on children's fingers, hands and arms, which are unique if it is compared with those for adult tuina. The manipulation is found to be easily accepted by children, as the strength of tuina is gentle and soft. No severe adverse reaction in regards of Chinese pediatric Tuina was reported, the mild adverse reaction such as skin abrasion can be completely avoided with correct operating instructions. However, it is still lack of high quality RCTs (Randomized Controlled Trials) to evaluate its efficacy. The main obstacle is the difficulty to conduct a valid sham Tuina comparison group. In order to solve this problem, the investigators designed a device for sham Tuina, with a Cloak Shaped cover which is opaque and big enough to cover the whole body and arms of a child who is under 6 years old. Two narrow holes are required on the cover, so that the therapist's hands can touch the child through these holes. The whole manipulation process will be invisible under the cover.The investigators aim to detect whether it is effective as a sham device for pediatric Tuina researches.

Inclusion criteria

• Children with disease in Pediatric Outpatient Department of Kanghua Hospital
• Children aged 0-6 years.
• Guardian and child can be cooperative over the study period.
• Guardian signed the informed consent.
• Children have no attendance in other studies simultaneously.

Exclusion criteria

• Child with one or more PT experiences on arms, abdomen or back.
• Child with a previous history of convulsion.
• Child with any of the following conditions on the area to be manipulated: phlebitis, open wound, fracture and tissue damage.
• Child combined with any of following conditions: disorders of consciousness, seizures or twitching, shock, varicella, hand-foot-mouth disease, encephalitis B, and etc.