ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026
Understanding factors related to application of traditional Chinese medicine tuina for congenital muscular torticollis in children: a qualitative study based on traditional Chinese medicine tuina practitioners.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCongenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common pediatric congenital musculoskeletal abnormality that may impact children’s development even quality of life if not managed appropriately. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tuina is a manual therapy derived from the theoretical foundations of TCM, has become an important non-invasive intervention in pediatric clinical practice, particularly for the management of CMT. However, the factors influencing its application remain insufficiently explored. Understanding these factors from the perspective of TCM tuina practitioners is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and promoting broader integration of TCM tuina in pediatric care. This study aims to explore key factors related to the clinical application of TCM tuina for children with CMT, in order to inform clinical practice and support the more effective implementation of tuina therapy in pediatric care, based on qualitative insights from experienced TCM tuina practitioners.
methodA qualitative research design was employed, with data collected from a purposive sample of 15 practitioners, each with over three years of experience in TCM tuina at three different public hospitals. Individual interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The data were processed using template analysis, facilitated by MS Word software. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist guided this study’s reporting.
resultsTwo main themes included: (1) existed problems, (2) optimized approaches. The theme of existed problems included the subthemes of: (a) Variability in clinical practice, (b) Barriers to parental involvement, (c) Importance of strong parental participation in TCM tuina. The theme of optimized approaches included the subthemes of: (a) Promotion of public awareness, (b) Improvement of treatment protocols, (c) Enhancement of practitioner–parent communication.
conclusionThis study highlights key factors influencing the clinical application of TCM tuina for children with CMT, as identified by experienced practitioners. Challenges such as inconsistent treatment practices, limited parental awareness, and inadequate family involvement were commonly reported. Practitioners emphasized the importance of early intervention, individualized tuina techniques, standardized protocols, and active parent-practitioner collaboration. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing treatment strategies and promoting the effective integration of TCM tuina into pediatric care for CMT.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.