PENGARUH TERAPI TUI NA TERHADAP PERUBAHAN BERAT BADAN BALITA MALNUTRISI (GAN ZHENG) SINDROM DEFISIENSI LIMPA DENGAN STAGNASI MAKANAN

Abstract

The Background: Malnutrition in toddlers remains a serious public health issue in Indonesia, with long-term impacts on physical growth, cognitive development, and immune function. Malnutrition involves an imbalance of nutrient intake, broadly categorized into undernutrition (e.g., stunting, wasting, underweight) and overnutrition (e.g., overweight, obesity). A key cause of undernutrition is impaired digestive function, which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) associates with Spleen Deficiency Syndrome with Food Stagnation (脾虚食积, Pí Xū Shí Jī). Tui Na therapy can help improve spleen function and weight gain in malnourished toddlers.

Objective: To determine the effect of Tui Na therapy on weight changes in malnourished toddlers (Gan Zheng) diagnosed with Spleen Deficiency and Food Stagnation Syndrome.

Methods: This quantitative pre-experimental study used a one-group pre-post-test design. Participants were 20 toddlers aged 1–5 years, selected via purposive sampling from Panti Sehat NPJ, Bekasi, West Java (March–July 2025). Tui Na was administered 6 times over 2 weeks, with weight measured before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.

Results: Mean weight increased from 11.285 kg (SD 1.859) to 11.600 kg (SD 1.959) post-intervention (average gain: 0.315 kg). Wilcoxon test showed p-value = 0.000, indicating a significant difference in weight pre- and post-Tui Na.

Conclusion: H₀ rejected, H₁ accepted—Tui Na significantly improved weight in malnourished toddlers with Spleen Deficiency-Food Stagnation Syndrome.