Scraping (a manipulative and body-based practice Manipulative and Body-Based Practices Complementary or alternative medicine can be classified into five major categories of practice: Whole medical systems Mind-body techniques Biologically based practices Manipulative and body-based... read more ), also called gua sha, involves rubbing a dull implement across skin, usually on the back, neck, or extremities. Recently, scraping has become popular in athletics, particularly weight lifting. Scraping is believed to increase blood flow to an area and enhance metabolism and healing. Depending on the tool used, scraping may also be called coining or spooning.
These therapies have shown benefit in musculoskeletal disorders and pain.
Scraping typically causes bruising of the skin.
(See also Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Overview of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Integrative medicine and health (IMH) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include a variety of healing approaches and therapies that historically have not been included in conventional... read more .)
