When Italian expat D'Andria Stefano first visited the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Dongguan No.6 People's Hospital, he was apprehensive. Persistent pain in his left lower back and hip had troubled him for more than two months, extending to the front of his thigh and making it difficult to walk. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was unfamiliar territory, but his doubts soon gave way to surprise.

After consultations, physical examinations and medical imaging, a team led by Dr. Zhang Zhenning identified several contributing factors, including mild lumbar scoliosis, narrowing between two vertebrae, an old hip injury and an anterior pelvic tilt. Drawing on both modern imaging and TCM diagnosis, the team developed a personalized treatment plan combining Long's spinal manipulation, acupoint catgut embedding, physiotherapy and core-strengthening exercises.