Massage techniques are understood to affect the meridians by:
- activating qi and blood (in the sense of increasing its activity)
- regulating qi and blood (in the sense of dispersing stagnation and guiding counterflow)
- dredging the meridians ( in the sense of removing external pathogens like cold and damp)
Massage also relaxes the soft and connective tissues to ease spasm and increase flexibility and straightens the joints.
(planetherbs.com/research-center/therapies-articles/chinese-massage-therapy)