Abstract: Objective   To investigate the effect of tui na rolling method on the expression of relevant fibrosis proteins after blunt contusion injury of skeletal muscle in rabbits, and to explore the mechanism of action of tui na rolling method on the repair of blunt contusion injury of skeletal muscle.   Methods   Fifteen healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of blank (A), model (B) and treatment (C), with five rabbits in each group. Blunt contusion of skeletal muscle was modelled in rabbits of groups B and C using a self-constructed modified gravity hammer percussion device. The rabbits in group C were given the intervention 7 d of tui na rolling after successful modelling, at a frequency of 140 beats/min, 2 times/d, 3 min/session, for a total of 3 d of treatment. Tissue sampling was performed 1 d after the end of the intervention. Histological changes of rabbit quadriceps femoris muscle were observed by HE and Masson staining, and MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, and COL-I expression of quadriceps femoris muscle of rabbits in each group were detected by Western-Blot.   Results   The muscle tissue of the blank group was of regular structure, the muscle tissue of the model group was of very distinct shape, with blurred margins, significantly enlarged gaps, significant invasion of inflammatory cells, and increased collagen fiber production in the surrounding area, the muscle tissue of the treatment group was relatively more intact in structure, with the gaps narrowed, and a small amount of invasion of inflammatory cells and collagen fiber production could be seen, and the degree of its pathological repair was significantly better than that of the model group. Compared with the blank group, the expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, and COL-I in quadriceps femoris muscle of rabbits in the model group and the treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01). However, the expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, and COL-I in quadriceps femoris muscle of rabbits in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.01).   Conclusions   Tui na rolling method is ability to inhibit skeletal muscle fibrosis by reducing the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, and then inhibit skeletal muscle fibrosis, and its mechanism of action maybe related to the suppression of the expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, and COL-I.

Key words: Tui Na rolling; ,  Skeletal muscle blunt contusion; ,  Matrix metalloproteinase-9; ,  Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1; ,  ,  Transforming growth factor-β1; ,  ,  Type I collagen