They seemed to mainly treat people who had severe pain and were headed towards surgery. They were very vigorous, to say the least, but they were effective. In the U.S., we generally think of massage as a gentle, relaxing sort of treatment. But in China, they use it as a last-ditch resort to avoid surgery or restore function after a disabling trauma. A lot of people wonder what the difference is between acupressure and massage.
Acupressure is static pressure on particular point, often a 'trigger point' or painful knot.
The pressure doesn't have to be very strong. The patient should be able to relax into the discomfort. If the pressure is too strong, it will often cause even more muscle tightening. More general massage uses moving techniques, such as strokes, kneading, etc. It can stretch muscles, increase circulation, etc.