Thuan’s Comprehensive Experience
Thuan Duong, L.Ac, LMT, CLT
Philosophy: Restoring Function and Balance from the Inside Out
I believe the body performs best when all its systems work in harmony. Over the years, I have worn many professional hats including Corrective Exercise Specialist, Medical Massage Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist, Breath Coach, and Licensed Acupuncturist. Each experience has shaped how I understand the body’s ability to adapt and recover.
Pain is not the enemy; it is the body’s way of asking for help. My work focuses on uncovering why discomfort occurs, whether from structural imbalance, stress, or internal dysregulation, and guiding the body back to stability and efficiency. By integrating modern biomechanics with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I address both structure and system for long-term, sustainable results.
My goal is to walk beside my patients through life’s transitions, helping them move freely, live fully, and continue doing what they love with comfort and confidence.
What a Session with Me Looks Like
Each session begins with a focused discussion and assessment, exploring how posture, mechanics, organ function, and lifestyle contribute to your current condition. From there, I design a personalized plan that integrates the principles of acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and manual therapy techniques to address both internal and external imbalances.
This approach evolved into my signature Comprehensive Treatment, a one-hour, fully integrated session that reflects the highest level of personalized, evidence-informed care. It is not simply a massage or acupuncture session; it is a clinical experience that unites the diagnostic precision of acupuncture and TCM with the structural insight developed through years of medical massage therapy.
The goal is simple yet profound: one patient, one hour of undivided attention, one shared goal: restoring balance, movement, and efficiency throughout the body.
In practice, this means:
Assessing structure, posture, and tissue tension through targeted manual therapy (including Tui Na) to address external patterns of restriction and imbalance.
Applying acupuncture to regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, and optimize internal function, influencing blood flow, hormonal regulation, and neuromuscular communication.
Integrating both approaches seamlessly to reduce discomfort, support long-term tissue recovery, and restore balance between the body’s internal systems and external structure.
By merging these two disciplines, the Comprehensive Treatment helps patients experience more complete results, not just temporary relief but an improved sense of balance, stability, and vitality that extends beyond the table.
Frequently Asked Questions about our Comprehensive Experience
Education, Training, and Clinical Experience
My background in exercise physiology and corrective movement built the foundation for understanding how mechanical imbalance influences function and recovery. I have since expanded that foundation through advanced training in medical massage therapy, lymphatic management, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, allowing me to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for every patient.
Medical Massage Therapy: Advanced Clinical Specializations
Orthopedic Massage – Restores alignment, mobility, and joint comfort.
Sports and Performance Massage – Aids recovery, prevents strain, and enhances athletic output.
Myofascial Release – Decreases fascial restriction, improving posture and range of motion.
Visceral and Vagus Nerve Techniques – Promotes healthy organ mobility and balanced nervous-system function.
Scar-Tissue and Instrument-Assisted Therapy – Restores flexibility and mobility after injury or surgery.
Corrective Exercise Integration – Reinforces postural stability and efficient movement patterns.
Active Stretch and Joint Mobility Techniques – Improves flexibility, joint function, and tissue resilience.
Tongue Posture Technique – Supports jaw, neck, and airway alignment.
Abdominal and Visceral Massage – Helps ease bloating, improve digestion, and regulate bowel function.
Oncology Massage – Provides safe, supportive care for patients during or after cancer treatment, helping reduce discomfort and fatigue.
Prenatal Massage – Promotes comfort and circulation throughout pregnancy while reducing strain on the back and hips.
Lymphedema and Breathwork Certification
As a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), I provide targeted care for inflammation management, swelling, and post-surgical recovery through:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) – Gentle, rhythmic techniques to encourage lymph flow and assist fluid rerouting.
Compression Therapy – Application of short-stretch compression bandages and personalized garment fitting, including pneumatic compression recommendations when appropriate.
Therapeutic Exercise – Customized routines designed to stimulate lymph flow, improve mobility, and maintain physical fitness.
As a Certified Breath Coach, I teach breathwork and relaxation techniques to regulate vagal tone, improve oxygen efficiency, and support recovery from a stress state to stability, helping improve overall energy levels and enhance sleep quality.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture – Improves circulation and supports nervous-system regulation to help restore neuromuscular function and promote healthy organ activity.
Electroacupuncture – Stimulates targeted tissue response to ease pain and enhance blood flow to the affected area.
Cupping and Gua Sha – Promotes lymphatic and blood flow, reduces fascial tension, assists tissue recovery, and decreases inflammation.
Moxibustion (Heat Therapy) – Enhances local blood flow and tissue nourishment using herbal heat therapy to help soothe discomfort, ease joint stiffness, calm IBS-type symptoms and bloating, and reduce muscle pain and inflammatory responses.
Acupressure and Tui Na – Traditional TCM manual manipulation techniques that focus on restoring integrated tissue structure and mobility.
Topical Herbal Therapy – Supports localized tissue comfort and reduces inflammatory response.
Addressing the Root Cause, Not Just the Symptom
At I Knead It Wellness, my approach bridges modern biomechanics with Traditional Chinese Medicine to address both structure and internal regulation.
Musculoskeletal and Structural Concerns
Lower back, SI joint, and pelvic floor pain • Neck and shoulder tension • Frozen shoulder • Limited mobility and joint stiffness • TMJ-related tension • Sciatica-like symptoms • Post-surgical or scar-tissue restrictions
Internal and Systemic Imbalances
Digestive irregularities and IBS-type symptoms • Stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances • Headaches, migraines, and vertigo • Hormonal and thyroid imbalance patterns • Chronic fatigue • Immune weakness • Localized or systemic inflammation affecting joints and soft tissue
This dual-lens approach ensures that care addresses not only symptoms but also underlying dysfunctions, supporting full-body performance and long-term resilience.
Disclaimer: Services provided by I Knead It Wellness are intended for wellness, education, and health-maintenance purposes and are not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a physician.
Comprehensive Care: Your Questions, Answered
Q: What is Comprehensive Care?
A: Comprehensive Care is our most complete service — a session that blends Eastern and Western medicine into one unified experience. Thuan combines his extensive background as a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), and Certified Lymphatic Therapist (CLT) to treat both structural and internal systems. Drawing from medical and orthopedic bodywork, lymphatic therapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, each session is uniquely tailored to promote pain relief, restore balance, and support long-term wellness.
Q: How is Comprehensive Care different from a regular massage or acupuncture session?
A: A standard massage focuses primarily on the muscles and structure of the body, while acupuncture works with the body’s internal systems and energy flow. Comprehensive Care bridges both. Thuan may integrate manual therapy (Tui Na), acupuncture, and lymphatic techniques within the same session to restore harmony between your body’s structure and function.
Q: Can I decide whether or not to include acupuncture during my session?
A: Yes, absolutely. Every Comprehensive Care session is tailored to your comfort level and goals. If you’re new to acupuncture or prefer to focus more on manual or lymphatic therapy, we can adjust the session accordingly. You’ll always discuss your preferences beforehand — we’re here to ensure every part of your experience feels right for you.
Q: What does a Comprehensive Care session look like?
A: Each session is a full hour of complete, undivided attention with Thuan Duong, L.Ac, LMT, CLT. During this time, Thuan focuses entirely on your body’s needs. Your session begins with a brief check-in and assessment to determine the best approach for that day. Treatment may include a combination of acupuncture, lymphatic therapy, and manual manipulation techniques informed by Thuan’s extensive background in medical and orthopedic bodywork. The experience is deeply focused, hands-on, and customized — designed to align the internal and external systems of your body for functional balance and long-term stability.
Q: Who is Comprehensive Care best suited for?
A: This service is designed for individuals seeking a deeper, more personalized level of care that is both efficient and all-encompassing. It’s ideal for those with chronic pain, repetitive strain, or long-standing imbalances who want to address the body as a whole — inside and out. Comprehensive Care provides the highest level of customization, blending multiple disciplines into one seamless session. It’s perfect for patients who value time, precision, and results, and who are ready for an experience that supports both internal regulation and external structural harmony for lasting change.