Table 1.
Acupuncture protocol [25]
| Point | Stimulation | location | Muscle | Innervation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set 1 | ||||
| Zhongji (CV3) | EA | 4 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | L1 |
| Zhongwan (CV12) | EA | On the midline, 4 cun superior to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | Th7-8 |
| Guilai (bilateral) (ST29) | EA | 1 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral of the midline | M. rectus abdominis | Th6-12 |
| Liangqiu (bilateral) (ST34) | EA | 2 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine found with the knee flexed | M. quadriceps femoris | Femoral nerve |
| Yinshi (bilateral) (ST33) | EA | 3 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine found with the knee flexed | M. quadriceps femoris | Femoral nerve |
| Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6) | De Qi four times | 3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus | Mm. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior | L4–5, S1–2 |
| Zusanli (bilateral) (ST36) | De Qi four times | On the anterior lateral side of the leg, 3 cun below Dubi (ST35), one finger width (middle finger) from the anterior crest of the tibia | Musculi tibialis anterior | L4–5, S1 |
| Hegu (bilateral) (LI4) | De Qi four times | On the highest point at m. interosseus dorsalis | Mm. interosseus dorsalis I, lumbricalis II, adductor pollicis | C8, Th1 |
| Set 2 | ||||
| Daju (bilateral) (ST27) | EA | 3 cun cranial to the pubic bone and 2 cun lateral to the midline | M. rectus abdominis | Th6–12 |
| Qihai (CV6) | EA | 1.5 cun caudal to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | Th11 |
| Xiawan (CV10) | EA | 2 cun cranial to the umbilicus | Fibrous tissue, linea alba | Th8 |
| Extra-meridian point (bilateral) | EA | 6 cun above the patella in line with SP10 | M. quadriceps femoris | L2–L4 |
| Xuehai (bilateral) (SP10) | EA | With the knee flexed, on the medial side of the thigh 2 cun above the superior medial corner of the patella on the prominence of the medial head of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh | M. quadriceps femoris | L2–L4 |
| Sanyinjiao (bilateral) (SP6) | De Qi four times | 3 cun proximal to the medial malleolus | Mm. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior | L4–5, S1–2 |
| Taichong (bilateral) (LR3) | De Qi four times | Between metatarsal I & II, just distal to the caput | M. interosseus dorsalis I | S2–3 |
| Neiguan (bilateral) (PC6) | De Qi four times | 2 cun proximal to the processus styloideus radii, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and the flexor carpi radialis | M. flexor digitorum superficialis | C8, Th1 |
The two sets will be alternated for every other treatment
C cervical vertebra, CV conception vessel, EA electroacupuncture, L lumbar vertebra, LI large intestine, LR liver, M. musculi, Mm. musculus, PC pericardium, S sacral vertebra, SP spleen, ST stomach, Th thoracic vertebra