How is manual therapy different from Chuna?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. Both are hands-on treatments. We don't say one is better.
2. Chuna is done by a Korean medicine doctor in person; manual therapy is done by a physical therapist.
3. The treatments that come with them differ — acupuncture and herbal medicine, or injections and medication.
4. Chuna is covered by Korean national health insurance for up to 20 sessions a year.
5. If your bones are weak or you've just been injured, either one needs a check first.

What we often hear

• "What's the difference between manual therapy and Chuna?"
• "I don't know where I should go for it."
• "Which one does insurance cover?"

How is manual therapy different from Chuna?

Both are hands-on treatments; what differs is who does it and what other treatments come with it. We can't say one is better than the other.

This is one of the questions we're asked most often in the clinic. First, let us be clear about something. There is not yet any data comparing the two treatments side by side. So what follows describes only the differences, not which is better.

Who does it?

With Chuna, a Korean medicine doctor examines you and performs it in person. With manual therapy, a medical doctor diagnoses you and a physical therapist performs it.

You can get Chuna at Korean medicine clinics and Korean medicine hospitals, and manual therapy at orthopedic or pain medicine clinics and similar places.

The treatments that come with them differ

Chuna is usually combined with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine, while manual therapy is often combined with injections, medication, or nerve treatments.

In practice, this difference is the biggest one. Rather than comparing only the hands-on part, it's closer to reality to look at the full set of treatments you receive that day.

A situation where severe inflammation needs to be calmed quickly and a situation where posture and balance need time call for different things.

How do the costs differ?

Chuna has been covered by Korean national health insurance since April 2019, for up to 20 sessions a year. Manual therapy is not covered by national health insurance.

The cost of Chuna differs by the type you receive, and after 20 sessions, insurance no longer applies. For manual therapy, each hospital sets its own price.

Whether you can get reimbursed through Korean private health insurance (silbi) depends on your plan and when you signed up. This isn't something we can confirm for you, so please check directly with your insurer.

Are there different types of Chuna?

Yes. It's divided into techniques that work on bones and joints and techniques that work on muscles and fascia, and further divided by intensity and method.

Some techniques work gently within the joint's normal range of motion, and some go slightly past that range with a quick burst of force. Which one we use depends on your condition.

The time also varies by type. Gentle techniques take about ten minutes, while stronger ones can take over thirty. On your first visit, the examination adds more time.

Are there cases where I shouldn't have it?

Yes. If your bones have weakened, you have a fracture, you've recently been seriously injured, or you have acute inflammation, you shouldn't have hands-on treatment as usual.

This is the same for both Chuna and manual therapy. So whichever you choose, checking your current condition comes first. If you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis or take medication for it, please tell us in advance.

How we work

We assess your condition before laying hands on you. We use a posture analysis to measure which way and how much your body is tilted, and if needed we check with X-ray, CT, or MRI in partnership with the radiology clinic on the 2nd floor of the same building. This is where we sort out whether your bones are weak or whether you're in a condition where hands-on treatment shouldn't be done. We look at the images, make a plan, and then begin treatment.

We don't stop at Chuna alone. We manage pain with acupuncture and pharmacopuncture, and if needed we add herbal medicine based on test results. We also help correct your sitting posture and exercise habits. That's because hands-on release alone often wears off after a few days.

We show you what changed in numbers. We re-measure the posture and symptom scores taken before treatment and compare them. We judge not by "it seems better" but by how much has changed, and if nothing changes, we don't repeat the same treatment; we change direction.

If it's not for us, we'll tell you. If after examining you we judge that what you need right now is a different treatment, we'll tell you so. If you're already receiving something elsewhere, please let us know. There's no need to receive the same thing twice.

What are the limits of this assessment?

There is no data comparing the two treatments under the same conditions. So we don't say that either one works better.

One more note. With hands-on treatment, results partly depend on the person doing it. This applies to both Chuna and manual therapy, and we are no exception.

We don't say which one is better. Instead, we examine you with our hands and tell you what your body needs right now.

If you're unsure which of the two to choose, just ask us. What's stiff right now matters more than the name of the treatment.

The right treatment depends on your condition, so we decide after the examination.