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Table 1 Locations for acupuncture

From: Acupuncture of different treatment frequency in knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a pilot randomized clinical trial

Acupoint

Location

ST 35

(Du bi)

On the anterior aspect of the knee, in the depression lateral to the patellar ligament

EX-LE5

(Nei xi yan)

On the anterior aspect of the knee, in the depression medial to the patellar ligament

LR8

(Ququan)

On the medial aspect of the knee, in the depression medial to the tendons of the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus muscles, at the medial end of the popliteal crease

GB33

(Xi yang guan)

On the lateral aspect of the knee, in the depression between the biceps femoris tendon and the iliotibial band, posterior and proximal to the lateral epicondyle of the femur

Ashi point

The point where the patient feels most pain

ST32

(Fu tu)

On the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, on the line connecting the lateral end of the base of the patella with the anterior superior iliac spine, 6 cuna superior to the base of the patella

ST 34

(Liang qiu)

On the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, between the vastuslateralis muscle and the lateral border of the rectus femoris tendon, 2 cun superior to the base of the patella

ST 36

(Zu san li)

3 cun directly below ST35, and one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior border of the tibia

ST40

(Feng long)

On the anterolateral aspect of the leg, lateral border of the tibialis anterior muscle, 8 cun superior to the prominence of the lateral malleolus

EX-LE2

(He ding)

On the anterior aspect of the thigh, in the depression superior to the base of the patella

GB31

(Fengshi)

On the lateral aspect of the thigh, in the depression posterior to the iliotibial band where the tip of the middle finger rests, when standing up with the arms hanging alongside the thigh

GB 34

(Yang ling quan)

On the fibular aspect of the leg, in the depression anterior and distal to the head of the fibula

GB 36

(Waiqiu)

On the fbular aspect of the leg, anterior to the fibula, 7 cun proximal to the prominence of the lateral malleolus

GB39

(Xuanzhong)

On the fbular aspect of the leg, anterior to the fibula, 3 cun proximal to the prominence of the lateral malleolus

GB41

(Zulin qi)

On the dorsum of the foot, distal to the junction of the bases of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, in the depression lateral to the fifth extensor digitorum longus tendon

BL39

(Wei yang)

On the posterolateral aspect of the knee, just medial to the biceps femoris tendon in the popliteal crease

BL40

(Wei zhong)

On the posterior aspect of the knee, at the midpoint of the popliteal crease

BL57

(Cheng shan)

On the posterior aspect of the leg, at the connecting point of the calcaneal tendon with the two muscle bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle

BL60

(Kun lun)

On the posterolateral aspect of the ankle, in the depression between the prominence of the lateral malleolus and the calcaneal tendon

LR 3

(Tai chong)

In the depression anterior to the junction of first and second metatarsal bones

LR 7

(Xi guan)

On the tibial aspect of the leg, inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia, 1 cun posterior to SP9

KI 3

(Tai xi)

On the posteromedial aspect of the ankle, in the depression between the prominence of the medial malleolus and the calcaneal tendon

KI10

(Yin gu)

On the posteromedial aspect of the knee, just lateral to the semitendinosus tendon, in the popliteal crease

SP4

(Gong sun)

On the medial aspect of the foot, anteroinferior to the base of the first metatarsal bone, at the border between the red and white flesh

SP6

(San yin jiao)

On the tibial aspect of the leg, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus

SP 9

(Yin ling quan)

On the tibial aspect of the leg, in the depression between the inferior border of the medial condyle of the tibia and the medial border of the tibia

SP 10

(Xuehai)

On the anteromedial aspect of the thigh, on the bulge of the vastus medialis muscle, 2 cun superior to the medial end of the base of the patella

  1. a1 cun (≈ 20 mm) is defined as the width of the interphalangeal joint of the patient’s thumb