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AI Meets AM

In a true marriage of tradition and innovation, an AI (artificial intelligence) robot has been built by a Singapore startup called Ai Treat to give massages based on the tradition of Tui Na, an ancient Chinese medical therapy. The robotic masseuse, EMMA, uses sensors and 3D vision to measure muscle stiffness and identifies pressure points before giving a personalized massage to patients for the purpose of relaxation and pain relief.

EMMA (Expert Manipulative Massage Automation) was developed by a physician trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and uses the same principles of personalized soft tissue massage which is derived from Tui Na therapy.


Tui Na is the oldest known massage therapy and is one of the four branches of TCM, along with acupuncture, qi gong, and herbal medicine. It is meant to stimulate the flow of qi to promote balance and harmony within the body. The massage alternates between yin techniques, which are gentle, passive, and meditative, and the yang techniques that are more active and physical to stimulate deep blockages and knots.  


Sources:

EMMA: The AI robot masseuse practicing ancient wellness therapies - CNN

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