Acupuncture Points for Joint Stiffness Knee

2 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

100%

ST34 · ST35 · SP09 · SP10 · GB34

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 梁丘 (liáng qiū)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the laterosuperior border of the patella.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Wind, Numbness, Leg Pain, Pain

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 犢鼻 (dú bí)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is at the lower border of the patella in the depression the lateral to the patellar ligament.

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

🛡️ Treats: Swelling, Pain, Channel Stagnation, Swollen Knee, Leg Muscle Wasting

SP09Yin Mound Spring

SP09 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陰陵泉 (yīn líng quán)

🎯 Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia in the depression the posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of knee inflammation.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Fever, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Jaundice

SP10Sea Of Blood

SP10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 血海 (xuè hǎi)

🎯 Location: When knee is flexed point is 2 thumb widths above the mediosuperior border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris.

⚠️ Cautions: Anticoagulant therapy or a coagulopathy raises the risk of haematoma at the needling site – apply prolonged pressure on withdrawal. The precaution governs technique; bleeding disorders remain a treatable indication.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Absent Periods, Blood Stagnation, Pain, Hives

GB34Yang Mound Spring

GB34 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 陽陵泉 (yáng líng quán)

🎯 Location: In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Knee Pain, Jaundice, Constipation, Vomiting

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 4 weeks

Did better than sham needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s40122-025-00713-x ↗
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Protocol (2 points)

90%

LI10 · TB05

LI10Arm Three Miles

LI10 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 手三里 (shǒu sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of local inflammation or injury.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Pain, Facial Droop

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

郭锋王建强 张志刚白杰. 针刺“外关穴、手三里穴”为主治疗膝骨性关节炎22例. 中医临床研究 ., 2022 [CNKI]
Not substantiated. Studies in the index cover this search, and none of their protocols use any of these points.
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Points cited for Joint Stiffness Knee

How often each point appears across the 2 entries ranked highest for Joint Stiffness Knee. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian1 of 2
  • LI10Arm Three MilesLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 2
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian1 of 2
  • ST34Ridge MoundStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • ST35Calf's NoseStomach Meridian1 of 2
  • TB05Outer GateTriple Burner Meridian1 of 2

How the studies delivered it

What the 1 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling1 of 1

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

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