Acupuncture Points for Shoulder Chronic Pain

5 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Points cited for Shoulder Chronic Pain

How often each point appears across the 5 entries ranked highest for Shoulder Chronic Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI15Shoulder And ClavicleLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 5
  • ST38Ribbon OpeningStomach Meridian3 of 5
  • SI09True ShoulderSmall Intestine Meridian2 of 5
  • TB14Shoulder Bone HoleTriple Burner Meridian2 of 5
  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian1 of 5
  • LI14Upper Arm ProminenceLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • LI16Great BoneLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • SI10Upper Arm Shu PointSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • SI11Heavenly GatheringSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • SI12Grasping The WindSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • SI13Crooked WallSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5
  • SI15Middle Shoulder PointSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 5

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (5 points)

100%

LI14 · LI15 · ST38 · SI09 · TB14

Point 1 of 5

LI14Upper Arm Prominence

LI14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臂臑 (bì bù)

🎯 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

Study-reported

Needling · 12 sessions over 6 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, SI09, TB14 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.0000000000046638 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI15 · SI15 · GB21

Point 1 of 3

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān dòu)

🎯 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

Study-reported

Cupping · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2016/7358918 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI15 · LI16 · SI09 · SI10 · SI11 · SI12 · SI13 · TB14

Point 1 of 8

LI15Shoulder And Clavicle

LI15 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩髃 (jiān dòu)

🎯 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

Study-reported

Thread embedding · 8 sessions over 8 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000046638 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI15, SI09, TB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

ST38Ribbon Opening

ST38 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 條口 (tiáo kǒu)

🎯 Location: 8 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Common Cold, Abdominal Pain, Numbness, Swelling, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/5701042 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST38 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

ST38Ribbon Opening

ST38 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 條口 (tiáo kǒu)

🎯 Location: 8 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Common Cold, Abdominal Pain, Numbness, Swelling, Pain

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/5701042 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST38 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-130 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 4 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling2 of 4
  • Cupping1 of 4
  • Thread embedding1 of 4

Sessions: the 4 studies that gave a count ran a median of 5 (middle half 1 to 9).

Course: the 4 studies that gave a length ran a median of 22 days (middle half 1 day to 46 days).

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

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