Acupuncture Points for Shoulder Weakness

3 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (6 points)

100%

LI14 · LI15 · LI16 · SI10 · TB13 · 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
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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

LI16Great Bone

LI16 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨骨 (jù gǔ)

🎯 Location: In the upper aspect of the shoulder in the depression the between acromial extremity of the clavicle and scapular spine.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling due to risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Pain, Epilepsy, Goiter

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

TB13Upper Arm Convergence

TB13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臑會 (nào huì)

🎯 Location: On the line joining olecranon the and TB14 on the posterior border of the deltoid muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Phlegm, Shoulder Blade Pain, Shoulder Pain, 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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015325 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI14, LI15, TB13, TB14 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1155/2020/9786367 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

LI15 · ST38 · SI09

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

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

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

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.12659/MSM.923240 ↗
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:10.1097/MD.0000000000015325 ↗

Protocol (11 points)

100%

LU01 · LU02 · LU03 · LU04 · LU05 · LI14 · LI15 · KD26 · TB12 · TB13 · TB14

LU01Central Mansion

LU01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 中府 (zhōng fǔ)

🎯 Location: Laterosuperior to the sternum 1 thumb width below LU02 at the level of the 1st intercostal space 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle obliquely or laterally, never deeply or medially – risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Chest Pain, Fever, Shortness of Breath

LU02Cloud Gate

LU02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 雲門 (yún mén)

🎯 Location: In the superior lateral part of the anterior thoracic wall superior to the coracoid process of the scapula in the depression of the infraclavicular fossa 6 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling due to proximity to lungs and blood vessels; contraindicated in hemoptysis.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Chest Pain, Shortness of Breath, Asthma

LU03Celestial Storehouse

LU03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 天府 (tiān fǔ)

🎯 Location: On the medial aspect of the upper arm 3 thumb widths below end of the axillary fold on the radial side of the biceps. brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; caution near brachial artery.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Dizziness, Coughing Blood

LU04Guarding White

LU04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 俠白 (xiá bái)

🎯 Location: On the medial aspect of the upper arm 4 thumb widths below anterior end of the axillary fold or 5 thumb widths above the cubital crease on the radial side of the biceps brachii.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with depth to avoid damaging blood vessels.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Palpitations, Retching

LU05Cubit Marsh

LU05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 尺澤 (chǐ zé)

🎯 Location: On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid in cases of severe vascular disease; caution with depth at cubital fossa.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath, Asthma, Knee Pain

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

KD26Lively Centre

KD26 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Kidney Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 彧中 (yù zhōng)

🎯 Location: In the 1st intercostal space 2 thumb widths lateral to the anterior midline.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling; risk of pneumothorax.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm, Asthma, Coughing Blood

TB12Dispersing Riverbed

TB12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 消濼 (xiāo luò)

🎯 Location: On the line joining olecranon the and TB14 midway between TB11 and TB13.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Dizziness, Back Pain, Shoulder Pain, Pain

TB13Upper Arm Convergence

TB13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 臑會 (nào huì)

🎯 Location: On the line joining olecranon the and TB14 on the posterior border of the deltoid muscle.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Phlegm, Shoulder Blade Pain, Shoulder Pain, 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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2020/9786367 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI14, LI15, TB13, 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.0000000000015325 ↗
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Points cited for Shoulder Weakness

How often each point appears across the 3 entries ranked highest for Shoulder Weakness. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI15Shoulder And ClavicleLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 3
  • LI14Upper Arm ProminenceLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 3
  • TB13Upper Arm ConvergenceTriple Burner Meridian2 of 3
  • TB14Shoulder Bone HoleTriple Burner Meridian2 of 3
  • KD26Lively CentreKidney Meridian1 of 3
  • LI16Great BoneLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 3
  • LU01Central MansionLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LU02Cloud GateLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LU03Celestial StorehouseLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LU04Guarding WhiteLung Meridian1 of 3
  • LU05Cubit MarshLung Meridian1 of 3
  • SI09True ShoulderSmall Intestine Meridian1 of 3

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.

  • Electroacupuncture2 of 3
  • Needling1 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.