Objective To observe the effects of tuina on muscle atrophy after denervation and on muscle satellite cell proliferation.Methods Ninety male rabbits with denervated skeletal muscles were randomly divided into a normal group,a control group,and a treatment group.Tuina was applied daily to the right gastrocnemius muscles beginning one day after the modeling.Changes in muscle wet weight ratio and the amount of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SCs) were observed 1,2 and 3 weeks and 1,2,4 and 6 months post-modeling.Results The muscle wet weight ratios of both the treatment group and the control group were lower than those of the normal group.The weight ratio in the treatment group was significantly different from that in the control group after 2 months (0.578 ±0.163 vs 0.470 ±0.062),4 months (0.575 ±0.110 vs 0.453 ±0.101) and 6 months (0.559 ±0.083 vs 0.446 ±0.048).The amount of SCs was also significantly different in the treatment and control groups after 1 week (16.83 ±5.31 vs8.67±2.58),2 weeks (51.83±7.94 vs32.00±6.93) and4 months (11.17±3.49 vs 17.67±4.18).Conclusion Tuina therapy can promote proliferation of satellite cells and delay the atrophy of denervated skeletal muscles.