Acupuncture Points for Injury Rotator Cuff

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI15 · TB14

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

TB14Shoulder Bone Hole

TB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髎 (jiān liáo)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

Study-reported

Needling · 3 sessions over 7 days

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250217-0006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, TB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗
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Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI14 · LI15 · SI09 · SI11 · TB14 · XU12

LI14Upper Arm Prominence

LI14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì nào)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting LI11 and LI15, 7 thumb widths above the LI11 at the insertion of the deltoid muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid nerve damage.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Redness, Swelling, Pain, Goiter

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

SI09True Shoulder

SI09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩貞 (jiān zhēn)

🎯 Location: Posterior and inferior to the shoulder joint; when arm is adducted point is 1 thumb width above the posterior end of the axillary fold.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Wind, Numbness, Shoulder Blade Pain, Shoulder Pain

SI11Heavenly Gathering

SI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天宗 (tiān zōng)

🎯 Location: On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Qi Stagnation, Chest Fullness, Elbow Pain, Shoulder Blade Pain

TB14Shoulder Bone Hole

TB14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髎 (jiān liáo)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

XU12Shoulder Front / Shoulder Mausoleum

XU12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩前 / 肩內陵穴 (jiān qián / jiān nèi líng xué)

🎯 Location: On the anterior aspect of the shoulder joint, midway between the anterior axillary crease & jianyu l.i.-15. at the medial condyle of the shoulder joint..

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute shoulder injury.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Numbness, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 30 sessions over 6 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, TB14, XU12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250217-0006 ↗
Press Needles
180 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI15 · SI10 · XU12

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
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Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

SI10Upper Arm Shu Point

SI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臑俞 (nào shū)

🎯 Location: When arm is adducted, point is directly above the posterior end of the axillary fold in the depression the inferior to the scapular spine.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Chills, Arm Pain

XU12Shoulder Front / Shoulder Mausoleum

XU12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩前 / 肩內陵穴 (jiān qián / jiān nèi líng xué)

🎯 Location: On the anterior aspect of the shoulder joint, midway between the anterior axillary crease & jianyu l.i.-15. at the medial condyle of the shoulder joint..

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute shoulder injury.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Numbness, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S591459 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, XU12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI14 · LI15 · SI09 · SI11 · TB14

LI14Upper Arm Prominence

LI14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì nào)

🎯 Location: On the lateral side of the upper arm on the line connecting LI11 and LI15, 7 thumb widths above the LI11 at the insertion of the deltoid muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid nerve damage.

🛡️ Treats: Chest Pain, Redness, Swelling, Pain, Goiter

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

SI09True Shoulder

SI09 acupoint
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Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩貞 (jiān zhēn)

🎯 Location: Posterior and inferior to the shoulder joint; when arm is adducted point is 1 thumb width above the posterior end of the axillary fold.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Wind, Numbness, Shoulder Blade Pain, Shoulder Pain

SI11Heavenly Gathering

SI11 acupoint
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Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天宗 (tiān zōng)

🎯 Location: On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Qi Stagnation, Chest Fullness, Elbow Pain, Shoulder Blade Pain

TB14Shoulder Bone Hole

TB14 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髎 (jiān liáo)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 30 sessions over 6 weeks

Did better than another treatment

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, TB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250217-0006 ↗
Press Needles
150 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI15 · TB14 · XU12

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān yú)

🎯 Location: Anteroinferior to the acromion on the upper portion of the deltoid muscle; when arm is in the full abduction the point is in the depression the appearing at the anterior border of the acromioclavicular joint.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax; caution in shoulder injuries.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Goiter, Hemiplegia

TB14Shoulder Bone Hole

TB14 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髎 (jiān liáo)

🎯 Location: On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted.

⚠️ Cautions: Rule out fracture, dislocation and joint instability before needling, and do not needle into an acutely swollen joint or a haemarthrosis.

🛡️ Treats: Numbness, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

XU12Shoulder Front / Shoulder Mausoleum

XU12 acupoint
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Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Upper limbs

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩前 / 肩內陵穴 (jiān qián / jiān nèi líng xué)

🎯 Location: On the anterior aspect of the shoulder joint, midway between the anterior axillary crease & jianyu l.i.-15. at the medial condyle of the shoulder joint..

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in acute shoulder injury.

🛡️ Treats: Qi Stagnation, Blood Stagnation, Numbness, Arm Pain, Benefit Shoulders

Study-reported

Needling · 3 sessions over 7 days

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250217-0006 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, TB14, XU12 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.004 ↗
Press Needles
9 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
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Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Points cited for Injury Rotator Cuff

How often each point appears across the 5 entries ranked highest for Injury Rotator Cuff. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI15Shoulder And ClavicleLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 5
  • TB14Shoulder Bone HoleTriple Burner Meridian4 of 5
  • XU12Shoulder Front / Shoulder MausoleumExtra Points: Upper limbs3 of 5
  • LI14Upper Arm ProminenceLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • SI09True ShoulderSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • SI11Heavenly GatheringSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • SI10Upper Arm Shu PointSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5

Registered, results not reported

These trials registered a protocol for Injury Rotator Cuff and have not reported results. They are not counted above.

LI04 · LI10 · LI11 · PC06 – doi:10.2147/JPR.S546835

How the studies delivered it

What the 3 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling3 of 3
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 3

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.