Clinical study on improving lung function in children after Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MMP) via traditional Chinese medicine meridian massage

Pneumonia impairs lung development, structure, and function during children’s critical growth stages. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) boosts constitution, yet the efficacy of TCM meridian massage for post-pneumonia lung function improvement remains unclear. This study investigates its role as an adjuvant therapy for lung function recovery in post-discharge children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MMP). Sixty-four MMP children with abnormal lung function at discharge (Jan 2023–Dec 2024) were randomized to treatment (n = 32) or control (n = 32) groups. The treatment group received meridian massage (3 sessions/week for 1 month) with three acupoint categories: lung-ventilating/cough-relieving (Feishu BL13, Danzhong CV17), phlegm-resolving (Tiantu CV22, Fenglong ST40), and spleen-lung-nourishing (Zusanli ST36, Pishu BL20). The control group only underwent lung function re-evaluation 1 month post-discharge. Data were analyzed via Prism® 10.0. Twenty-five treatment and 31 control patients completed follow-up finally. Baseline mixed-type lung function abnormalities and key parameters (e.g., FVC, FEV1) were comparable (p ≥ 0.05). At 1month post-discharge, recovery rates were 88.8% (22/25) vs. 41.9% (13/31) in the two groups, respectively. The treatment group showed superior improvements in large (FVC, FEV1, PEF) and small (MEF25, MEF50, MEF75, MMEF) airway parameters (p < 0.05), with no difference in FEV1/FVC (p > 0.05). Meridian massage safely and effectively promotes lung function recovery in post-MMP children through anti-inflammatory immune modulation and meridian-zang-fu regulation. It provides a novel therapeutic option for post-pneumonia lung dysfunction and evidence-based support for preventing long-term pulmonary sequelae.