This 2015 shoulder pain acupuncture research study concludes that acupuncture relieves shoulder pain, inflammation, and range of motion impingement. Researchers from the Yuxi Hospital of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) investigated the benefits of acupuncture in treating acute shoulder pain.
Commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, this is an inflammatory condition involving the rotator cuff and surrounding tissues, leading to the shoulder’s pain and immobility. The study concluded that acupuncture had a total effective rate exceeding 90%.
Shoulder Pain Acupuncture Research
Researchers randomly divided one hundred frozen shoulder patients into two equal acupuncture groups. One group in this shoulder pain acupuncture research study received the Hui style of acupuncture. The second group received conventional acupuncture. Both had outstanding results.
The Hui acupuncture group had a 96% effectiveness rate, while the standard acupuncture group had a 94% success rate. The scores demonstrated that acupuncture effectively resolves shoulder pain and improves range of motion. Furthermore, the Hui acupuncture approach shortens treatment time versus standard acupuncture therapy.
Activating Qi Energy
The unique feature of this shoulder pain acupuncture research is its highlighting of the Hui style of acupuncture. Hui means activating the Qi sensation when inserting needles. Patients feel this as an achy sensation at the location of the needle. This feeling lasts just a brief moment, then fades away. But this difference seems to make the treatment more potent.
This acupuncture technique involved needling the acupoint GB34 (Yanglingquan) while the patient was seated or lying down. While the practitioner gently manipulated the needle, the patients slowly moved their injured shoulder. The act of needling freed up the blockage, “unfreezing” arthritis before their very eyes. The process was safe and comfortable for the patients.
At Raleigh Acupuncture, we use a similar technique as described in this shoulder pain acupuncture research. It is painless for the patient and produces impressive results. The patient can gain tremendous mobility in their shoulder during this therapy, which they retain afterward. They could have been languishing in physical therapy for months with poor results before coming to acupuncture and then see strong results after just one treatment with this unique acupuncture solution.
The Ashi part of the Hui technique involved palpation to find sensitive areas at the rotator cuff region. Practitioners inserted needles into tender areas using 40 mm acupuncture needles at a perpendicular angle. Rotating and pulling were applied during the initial insertion process.
Next, the acupuncturists adjusted the needles to a shallow insertion, just below the skin’s surface. They then instructed the patients to gently stretch the shoulder joint outward, upward, posteriorly, and medially. Patients received seven treatments.
Conventional Shoulder Pain Acupuncture Group
The conventional acupuncture group in this shoulder pain acupuncture research study received treatment at the following points on the affected side with mild reinforcing and reducing techniques:
Jianliao, TW14
Jianqian, MUE48
Naoyu, SI10
Waiguan, Tw5
Hegu, LI4
The total retention needle time for each treatment was twenty minutes. Patients received seven treatments.
Impressive Shoulder Pain Results
The Hui group had a 96% positive patient outcome, and the conventional acupuncture group had a 94% effective rate. Both groups provided significant pain relief, improved rotator cuff movements, and, in many cases, completely resolved the patients’ frozen shoulder. This shoulder pain acupuncture research conclusively demonstrates that acupuncture is a highly effective form of therapy for resolving frozen shoulder.
Next Steps
If you, a friend, or family member have shoulder pain or frozen shoulder, come in for acupuncture. More and more insurance plans are covering acupuncture. We are in-network with Cigna, United Healthcare, and Aetna. Call to see if your plan covers acupuncture.
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References
Wang XY, Zhang YM, Jia YT, Wang H, Yue Q, Wu JK & Chen S. (2015). Treatment of 50 Patients with Acute Shoulder Periarthritis by Hui Acupuncture. Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 31(4).
Ma Y. (2009). Yun Ling Shu · Analysis of Guan Acupuncture and Zui Technique. Journal of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 33(5): 404-407.
Frozen Shoulder Acupuncture Research
This shoulder pain acupuncture research study describes the techniques we use at Raleigh Acupuncture to deliver spectacular results for our patients. Come in and experience it for yourself.
What our Clients are Saying
Tennis player with shoulder pain. Getting worse to the point of freezing up. Went to acupuncture. Starting easing immediately. Now back to tennis full force with no shoulder pain. I recommend this practice.
After shoulder surgery following a car accident, my shoulder was always stiff and achy. PT helped, but I suffered every day from shoulder pain. I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and they really helped. I did four treatments and my shoulder pain was completely gone.
I’m a golfer and started having trouble with my left shoulder over a year ago. My doctor wanted to do surgery, but I wanted to try other alternatives first. So I tried acupuncture. The folks at Raleigh Acupuncture were very professional, reasonably priced and did excellent work. They resolved my shoulder pain completely. I use them now for other pains in my post-50 body! Thank you Raleigh Acupuncture.