Although
acupuncture therapy is safe with only minor side effect, some severe
complications such as pneumothorax still happens. Such incidence could have
been avoided if acupuncturists were equipped with a better understanding of the
anatomical knowledge and appropriate depth of needle insertion, in particular
in points scattered in the neck and shoulder regions where the risk of injuries
of lung, heart, nerve and vessels are significantly high.
Recently,
a group of scientists in Taiwan, China, conducted a clinical study, using magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) to (1) measure the mean depth of some frequently used
acupoints around the neck and shoulder regions, and (2) understand that how
variable factors such as body size (using body mass index-BMI) and gender would
affect the measured depth of each acupoint. Three hundred and ninety-four participants
were recruited in this study. Outcome measure included the measurement of
distance of needle insertion tip (surface of skin) to any tissue that would
cause possible or severe complications.
MRI
analysis showed the mean depths of all participants, regardless of BMI and
gender, are as follows, in centimetres: GB21=5.6, SI14=5.2, SI15=8.8, GV15=4.9,
GV16=4.6, GB20=5.0, ST9=1.6, SI16=1.8, SI17=2.4, TE16=3.1, LI18=1.3. It was
revealed that participants with higher BMI had greater depths and males tended
to have greater depths in most of the points.
This
is the first study to investigate the mean depth of acupoints around neck and
shoulders. Acupuncturists should take information provided in consideration during
the treatment to prevent complications.
Reference
Chou
PC et al., Retrospective study using MRI to measure depths of acupuncture
points in neck and shoulder region. BMJ Open 2015;5:e007819.
doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007819. http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/7/e007819.abstract
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