# Acupoints for Stiffness Shoulder

16 sourced protocols for Stiffness Shoulder. Canonical page: https://acuiq.com/symptoms/stiffness-shoulder

## Protocols

| # | Points | Dosage | Frequency | Source | Kind | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI10 (Arm Three Miles), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), LI14 (Upper Arm Prominence), ST36 (Leg Three Miles), HT07 (Spirit Gate), TB05 (Outer Gate), GB21 (Shoulder Well), GB34 (Yang Mound Spring), GV26 (Philtrum) | – | – | doi:10.1093/ecam/nep210 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 2 | SI14 (Outer Shoulder Point), BL10 (Celestial Pillar), BL42 (Door Of The Corporeal Soul), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-246 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 3 | LI11 (Pond At The Bend), TB05 (Outer Gate) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0623-3 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 4 | LU05 (Cubit Marsh), LU09 (Great Source), LI02 (Second Space), LI11 (Pond At The Bend), ST41 (Dividing Cleft), ST45 (Running Point), SP02 (Great Capital), SP05 (Metal Hill), HT07 (Spirit Gate), HT09 (Lesser Surge), SI03 (Back Stream), SI08 (Small Sea), BL65 (Restraining Bone), BL67 (Reaching Yin), KD01 (Bubbling Spring), KD07 (Returning Flow), PC07 (Great Mound), PC09 (Central Surge), TB03 (Central Islet), TB10 (Heavenly Well), GB38 (Yang Assistance), GB43 (Narrow Stream), LV02 (Passing Between), LV08 (Spring At The Bend) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2015/802846 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 5 | GB20 (Wind Pool), GB21 (Shoulder Well), GV14 (Great Vertebra) | – | – | doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028540 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 6 | SI14 (Outer Shoulder Point), BL10 (Celestial Pillar), BL42 (Door Of The Corporeal Soul), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.3390/medicina59122141 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 7 | LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), LI16 (Great Bone), SI11 (Heavenly Gathering), TB14 (Shoulder Bone Hole), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 8 | LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), LI16 (Great Bone), SI11 (Heavenly Gathering), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 9 | LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.3390/healthcare14050605 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 10 | ST38 (Ribbon Opening), BL57 (Mountain Support) | – | – | doi:10.20140/j.2095-7785.2025.04.16 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 11 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI10 (Arm Three Miles), LI14 (Upper Arm Prominence), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), TB14 (Shoulder Bone Hole) | – | – | doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230130-0001 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 12 | SI14 (Outer Shoulder Point), BL10 (Celestial Pillar), BL42 (Door Of The Corporeal Soul), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.3390/medicina59122141 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 13 | LI04 (Junction Valley), LI15 (Shoulder And Clavicle), SI12 (Grasping The Wind), TB13 (Upper Arm Convergence), TB14 (Shoulder Bone Hole), GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | 崔晓婕许寒冰于微微相静. 基于形式概念分析法研究针灸治疗肩痹选穴规律. 世界中医药 ., 2021 [CNKI] | text | Point selection recorded in a clinical text or case report. |
| 14 | GB21 (Shoulder Well) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2012/989705 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 15 | ST38 (Ribbon Opening) | – | – | doi:10.1155/2020/5701042 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |
| 16 | LI14 (Upper Arm Prominence) | – | – | doi:10.1002/ccr3.5055 | trial | Point selection reported in a published study. |

## Point locations

| Point | Name | Meridian | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI04 | Junction Valley | Large Intestine Meridian | On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side. |
| LI10 | Arm Three Miles | Large Intestine Meridian | On the line joining LI05 and LI11, 2 thumb widths below cubital crease. |
| LI11 | Pond At The Bend | Large Intestine Meridian | 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. |
| LI14 | Upper Arm Prominence | Large Intestine Meridian | 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. |
| ST36 | Leg Three Miles | Stomach Meridian | 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| HT07 | Spirit Gate | Heart Meridian | At the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris. |
| TB05 | Outer Gate | Triple Burner Meridian | 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. |
| GB21 | Shoulder Well | Gallbladder Meridian | On the shoulder directly above the nipple at the midpoint of the line connecting GV14 and acromion the at the highest point of the shoulder. |
| GB34 | Yang Mound Spring | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula. |
| GV26 | Philtrum | Governing Vessel | At the junction of the upper ⅓ and middle ⅓ of the philtrum. |
| SI14 | Outer Shoulder Point | Small Intestine Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra where GV13 is located. |
| BL10 | Celestial Pillar | Bladder Meridian | 1.3 thumb widths lateral to the midpoint of the posterior hairline and in the depression on the lateral aspect of the trapezius. |
| BL42 | Door Of The Corporeal Soul | Bladder Meridian | 3 thumb widths lateral to the du mai at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra on the spinal border of the scapula. |
| LU05 | Cubit Marsh | Lung Meridian | On the cubital crease in the depression of the radial side of the biceps brachii tendon; point is located with elbow slightly flexed. |
| LU09 | Great Source | Lung Meridian | At the radial end of the transverse crease of the wrist in the depression on the lateral side of the radial artery. |
| LI02 | Second Space | Large Intestine Meridian | In the depression of the radial side of the index finger distal to the 2nd metacarpophalangeal joint; point located with finger slightly flexed. |
| ST41 | Dividing Cleft | Stomach Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the ankle joint in the depression the between tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and hallucis longus approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus. |
| ST45 | Running Point | Stomach Meridian | On the lateral side of the 2nd toe 0.1 thumb width posterior to the corner of the nail. |
| SP02 | Great Capital | Spleen Meridian | On the medial side of the great the toe distal and inferior to the 1st metatarsodigital joint in the depression of the junction of the red and white skin. |
| SP05 | Metal Hill | Spleen Meridian | In the depression the distal and inferior to the medial malleolus midway between tuberosity of the navicular bone and tip of the medial malleolus. |
| HT09 | Lesser Surge | Heart Meridian | On the radial side of the little finger about 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail. |
| SI03 | Back Stream | Small Intestine Meridian | When loose fist is made point is on the ulnar end of the distal palmar crease proximal to the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint at the end of the transverse crease and junction of the red and white skin. |
| SI08 | Small Sea | Small Intestine Meridian | When elbow is flexed point is located in the depression the between olecranon of the ulna and medial epicondyle of the humerus. |
| BL65 | Restraining Bone | Bladder Meridian | Posterior to the 5th metatarsophalangeal joint at the junction of the red and white skin. |
| BL67 | Reaching Yin | Bladder Meridian | On the lateral side of the small toe about 0.1 thumb width from corner of the nail. |
| KD01 | Bubbling Spring | Kidney Meridian | On the sole in the depression the when foot is in the plantar flexion the approximately at the junction of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the line connecting base of the 2nd and 3rd toes and heel. |
| KD07 | Returning Flow | Kidney Meridian | 2 thumb widths directly above the KD03 on the anterior border of the achilles tendon. |
| PC07 | Great Mound | Pericardium Meridian | In the middle of the transverse crease of the wrist between tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. |
| PC09 | Central Surge | Pericardium Meridian | In the center of the tip of the middle finger. |
| TB03 | Central Islet | Triple Burner Meridian | When fist is clenched point is on the dorsum of the hand between 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in the depression the proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint. |
| TB10 | Heavenly Well | Triple Burner Meridian | When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the about 1 thumb width superior to the olecranon. |
| GB38 | Yang Assistance | Gallbladder Meridian | 4 thumb widths above the tip of the external malleolus slightly anterior to the anterior border of the fibula, between extensor digitorum longus and peroneus brevis. |
| GB43 | Narrow Stream | Gallbladder Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot between 4th and 5th toe proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin. |
| LV02 | Passing Between | Liver Meridian | On the dorsum of the foot between 1st and 2nd toe proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin. |
| LV08 | Spring At The Bend | Liver Meridian | When knee is flexed point is at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia in the depression of the anterior border of the insertions of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus. |
| GB20 | Wind Pool | Gallbladder Meridian | In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16. |
| GV14 | Great Vertebra | Governing Vessel | Below spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra approximately at the level of the shoulders. |
| LI15 | Shoulder And Clavicle | Large Intestine Meridian | 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. |
| LI16 | Great Bone | Large Intestine Meridian | In the upper aspect of the shoulder in the depression the between acromial extremity of the clavicle and scapular spine. |
| SI11 | Heavenly Gathering | Small Intestine Meridian | On the scapula in the depression of the center of the subscapular fossa and at the level of the 4th thoracic vertebra. |
| TB14 | Shoulder Bone Hole | Triple Burner Meridian | On the shoulder posterior to the LI15 in the depression the inferior and posterior to the acromion the when arm is abducted. |
| ST38 | Ribbon Opening | Stomach Meridian | 8 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia. |
| BL57 | Mountain Support | Bladder Meridian | On the posterior midline of the leg between BL40 and BL60 in the pointed depression the formed below gastrocnemius belly when leg is stretched or heel is lifted. |
| SI12 | Grasping The Wind | Small Intestine Meridian | In the center of the suprascapular fossa directly above the SI11; when arm is lifted point is at the site of the depression. |
| TB13 | Upper Arm Convergence | Triple Burner Meridian | On the line joining olecranon the and TB14 on the posterior border of the deltoid muscle. |

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AcuiQ-authored prose (symptom and meridian descriptions, the wiki, the auricular crosswalk) is licensed CC-BY-4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The assembled protocol compilation is not: build on it with attribution, but do not redistribute it whole as a dataset – https://acuiq.com/terms. The underlying findings are the cited sources' claims – each entry carries its citation; verify against the source before relying on it. Not medical advice: https://acuiq.com/terms