Bone Setting & Orthopaedic Care

What Is TCM Bone Setting?

Bone setting is the orthopaedic core of Traditional Chinese Medicine — a system of precise joint realignment (osteoarticular manipulation) and soft tissue treatment designed to restore normal spinal and limb mechanics. Unlike pain relief approaches that manage symptoms, bone setting intervenes at a structural level: addressing facet joint dysfunction, abnormal disc pressure, and myofascial adhesions.

Bone setting vs chiropractic — key differences

Hong Kong orthopaedic heritage meets modern anatomy

Yin-Yang TCM's bone setting technique originates from Hong Kong's established orthopaedic clinical system. Our practitioners hold hospital training in fracture screening, imaging, and contraindication assessment — the Hong Kong standard brought directly to our Wimbledon and Reading clinics.

Conditions We Treat

Bone setting addresses both acute trauma and chronic cumulative injury across three core areas.

Spinal problems — lumbar, cervical, thoracic

Prolonged desk work and poor posture create facet joint dysfunction that leads to nerve root compression and compensatory muscle tension. Spinal decompression and joint realignment directly relieve the abnormal load on intervertebral joints. Patients experiencing lower back or leg pain can also read our

back pain & sciatica page →

Joint misalignment & sports injuries

Untreated acute sports injuries often develop into chronic joint instability — recurrent ankle sprains, shoulder subluxation, medial knee ligament tears. Bone setting intervenes 48–72 hours post-injury to restore correct joint alignment. See our full

sports injury treatment overview →

Joint misalignment & sports injuries

Myofascial adhesions restrict range of motion and create trigger points that radiate distally. Bone setting alone is insufficient — our dual approach combines joint realignment with simultaneous myofascial release to address both the structural and fascial layers in the same session.

Our Treatment Approach

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Initial assessment

Consultation — symptom timeline, trigger movements, medical history review

Movement assessment — spinal range of motion, gait analysis, postural compensation patterns

Palpation — locating misaligned segments, hypertonic muscle groups, and fascial adhesion points

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Contraindication screening — ruling out fractures, severe osteoporosis, tumours, or active infection before any manipulation

Manual techniques used

Joint Mobilisation

Low-velocity progressive joint surface gliding — for acute or sensitive presentations

HVLA Thrust

High-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation targeting confirmed misalignment with immediate decompression

Tendon-Bone Realignment

Micro-adjustment of tendon attachment zones — wrist, ankle, and finger small joints

Combined therapy protocols

Bone setting + Tui Na massage — pre-treatment muscle release to reduce resistance and improve realignment accuracy

Bone setting + Acupuncture — post-treatment inflammation suppression to consolidate realignment outcomes

Triple combination protocol — for multi-segment spinal degeneration: Tui Na + bone setting + acupuncture in a single session to compress total treatment cycles

Why Choose Yin-Yang TCM?

HK Registered TCM

Master of TCM

Hospital Clinical Background

Evidence-Informed Practice

CMCHK statutory licence — equivalent to Hong Kong's legal medical registration standard

Postgraduate training in orthopaedics, anatomy, pathology, and clinical imaging interpretation

Orthopaedic ward and emergency trauma experience from Hong Kong hospital rotations

Every technique grounded in anatomical rationale — no metaphysical-only explanations

Clinic locations

Wimbledon SW19

Serving South London — Merton, Sutton, Croydon

Reading, Castle St

Serving Berkshire & Oxfordshire

Both clinics operate under identical Hong Kong clinical standards — the same assessment protocol, the same practitioner credentials, regardless of which location you attend.

Pricing & Booking

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bone setting painful?

Patients may feel brief localised pressure during manipulation. Mild muscle soreness within 24 hours is a normal tissue response and typically resolves before the second session.

Do I need an X-ray or MRI first?

Imaging aids diagnosis but is not a prerequisite. Our practitioners perform a clinical orthopaedic assessment at first consultation. If fracture, severe osteoporosis, or other contraindications are suspected, imaging will be recommended before any manual treatment proceeds.

How many sessions are typically needed?

Acute joint misalignment usually shows clear improvement within 2–4 sessions. Chronic spinal degeneration or long-standing postural issues benefit from a 6–8 session cycle paired with daily postural correction.

Is bone setting suitable for all ages?

Most adults are suitable candidates. Contraindications include severe osteoporosis, bone tumours, acute inflammatory arthritis flare, and unhealed fractures. All are screened at initial assessment.

Are your practitioners legally registered in the UK?

Yes. Our practitioners hold CMCHK statutory registration from Hong Kong and practise in the UK as legally compliant complementary medicine providers. Our team actively participates in UK TCM statutory regulation processes as they develop.