AcuiQ

Acupuncture Points for Stiffness Shoulder

16 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Stiffness Shoulder:

Shoulder PainStiffness NeckAdhesive CapsulitisNeck PainDizzinessFrozen Shoulder

Points cited for Stiffness Shoulder

How often each point appears across the 16 entries ranked highest for Stiffness Shoulder. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB21Shoulder WellGallbladder Meridian10 of 16
  • LI15Shoulder And ClavicleLarge Intestine Meridian5 of 16
  • BL10Celestial PillarBladder Meridian3 of 16
  • BL42Door Of The Corporeal SoulBladder Meridian3 of 16
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 16
  • LI11Pond At The BendLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 16
  • LI14Upper Arm ProminenceLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 16
  • SI14Outer Shoulder PointSmall Intestine Meridian3 of 16
  • TB14Shoulder Bone HoleTriple Burner Meridian3 of 16
  • HT07Spirit GateHeart Meridian2 of 16
  • LI10Arm Three MilesLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 16
  • LI16Great BoneLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 16

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (10 points)

100%

LI04 · LI10 · LI11 · LI14 · ST36 · HT07 · TB05 · GB21 · GB34 · GV26

Knee WeaknessTremor ArmEpigastric PainFatigue ArmStiffness ShoulderAnxiety Performance
Point 1 of 10

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, LI10, LI14 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.0255-2930.20230130-0001 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

SI14 · BL10 · BL42 · GB21

Stiffness NeckStiffness Shoulder
Point 1 of 4

SI14Outer Shoulder Point

SI14 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩外俞 (jiān wài yú)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra where GV13 is located.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling; risk of pneumothorax.

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

Study-reported

Needling · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-246 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI14, BL10, BL42, GB21 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.3390/medicina59122141 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI11 · TB05

HeadacheNeck PainStiffness NeckStiffness Shoulder
Point 1 of 2

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ 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 · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0623-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, TB05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 ↗

Protocol (24 points)

100%

LU05 · LU09 · LI02 · LI11 · ST41 · ST45 · SP02 · SP05 · HT07 · HT09 · SI03 · SI08 · BL65 · BL67 · KD01 · KD07 · PC07 · PC09 · TB03 · TB10 · GB38 · GB43 · LV02 · LV08

FatigueDizzinessTinnitusHeadacheConstipationDepressionInsomniaItchinessEdemaPalpitationKnee PainBack PainVision BlurredCervical PainStiffness ShoulderCramp LegLower-limb PainUpper-limb NumbnessLower-limb NumbnessHemodialysis Complication
Point 1 of 24

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

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1155/2015/802846 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI11, HT07 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 ↗

Protocol (3 points)

100%

GB20 · GB21 · GV14

DizzinessNeck PainStiffness NeckStiffness ShoulderDisc Herniation CervicalUpper Limb NumbnessCervical Disc Herniation
Point 1 of 3

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

Study-reported

Electroacupuncture · 28 sessions over 4 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028540 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB21 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

SI14 · BL10 · BL42 · GB21

Stiffness NeckStiffness ShoulderNeck Chronic Pain
Point 1 of 4

SI14Outer Shoulder Point

SI14 acupoint
Click to enlarge

Click to view all layers

🗺️ Meridian: Small Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肩外俞 (jiān wài yú)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra where GV13 is located.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling; risk of pneumothorax.

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

Study-reported

Needling

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3390/medicina59122141 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. SI14, BL10, BL42, GB21 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-246 ↗
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How the studies delivered it

What the 13 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling6 of 13
  • Point injection2 of 13
  • Acupressure1 of 13
  • Electroacupuncture1 of 13
  • Moxibustion1 of 13

Sessions: the 9 studies that gave a count ran a median of 12 (middle half 1 to 20).

Course: the 9 studies that gave a length ran a median of 4 weeks (middle half 1 day 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.