Acupuncture Points for Knee Problems

12 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

AcuiQ posts on X about the papers it indexes. Follow @acu_iq

Points cited for Knee Problems

How often each point appears across the 12 entries ranked highest for Knee Problems. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • ST35Calf's NoseStomach Meridian9 of 12
  • GB34Yang Mound SpringGallbladder Meridian6 of 12
  • SP09Yin Mound SpringSpleen Meridian5 of 12
  • SP10Sea Of BloodSpleen Meridian5 of 12
  • ST36Leg Three MilesStomach Meridian5 of 12
  • ST34Ridge MoundStomach Meridian4 of 12
  • BL40Middle Of The CreaseBladder Meridian2 of 12
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 12
  • XL05AMedial Eye Of The KneeExtra Points: Lower limbs2 of 12
  • GB31Wind MarketGallbladder Meridian1 of 12
  • GB33Yang Knee GateGallbladder Meridian1 of 12
  • GB36Outer HillGallbladder Meridian1 of 12

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (8 points)

62%

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · KD10 · GB33 · GB34

Point 1 of 8

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST35, ST36, SP09, SP10, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.2147/JPR.S445770 ↗

Protocol (7 points)

62%

ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · BL40 · GB34

Point 1 of 7

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Study-reported

Needling · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S445770 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST35, ST36, SP09, SP10, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

62%

LI11 · ST34 · ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · BL40 · GB34

Point 1 of 8

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

Study-reported

Needling · 24 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.2147/JPR.S445770 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST34, ST35, ST36, SP09, SP10, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

62%

ST36 · SP06 · GB34

Point 1 of 3

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/prm/1270985 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST36, GB34 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗

Protocol (10 points)

62%

ST35 · ST36 · SP09 · SP10 · GB31 · GB36 · GB39 · GB41 · XL02 · XL05A

Point 1 of 10

ST35Calf's Nose

ST35 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 犊鼻 (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

Study-reported

Needling · 24 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20191212-0001 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST35, ST36, SP09, SP10 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

56%

ST34 · SP09 · SP10 · GB34

Point 1 of 4

ST34Ridge Mound

ST34 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ 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

Text or case report

Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report.

Ding Yu, Wang Yuexiang, Shi Xian, Luo Yun, Gao Yuhong, Pan Jingkun. Effect of ultrasound-guided acupotomy vs electro-acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study. J Tradit Chin Med 2016; 36(4): 444-449
Substantiated by a study. ST34, SP09, SP10, GB34 also appear in a study-reported protocol for the same search. That study did not test this prescription. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000030385 ↗
Hot Spots™ Press Needles
Sterile 1.5mm press needles on 3M backing tape · 100 per box
$19.99
per box · choose the quantity at checkout
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

How the studies delivered it

What the 8 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling4 of 8
  • Laser2 of 8
  • Moxibustion2 of 8
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 8
  • Acupressure1 of 8

Sessions: the 6 studies that gave a count ran a median of 19 (middle half 13 to 24).

Course: the 6 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 6 weeks).

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

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