Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22462238

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the mechanism and effects of different scraping techniques on body surface blood perfusion volume and local skin temperature of healthy subjects and to provide a baseline for microcirculation and energy metabolism for the evaluation of the therapeutic effects of scraping.

METHODS:

Changes of the local blood perfusion volume and skin temperature of healthy subjects before and after applying different scraping techniques were observed with a laser Doppler imager combined with an infrared thermographic device and the resulting data was analyzed with imaging and processing software for statistical analysis.

RESULTS:

Local blood perfusion volume and skin temperature all increased after both reinforcing and reducing scraping techniques. The value of blood flow 60 and 90 min after the reducing technique was significantly higher than that after the reinforcing technique (P < 0.01), while the skin temperature increased after both techniques but was not significantly different between the two (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Scraping can significantly improve the local blood perfusion volume, increase skin temperature and promote local blood circulation and metabolism of tissues.