Adjunct Placement for Acupuncture Points and Trigger Points for Shoulder Pain

The Primary Placement shown in the Shoulder Pain Treatment Protocol is the recommended starting point. It targets the shoulder joint and, where appropriate, areas of local tenderness associated with the individual’s presentation. The placements below are optional Adjunct Placements. They may be used to complement the Primary Placement, although in some cases an appropriately selected distal acupuncture point may be sufficient on its own. They may be considered when shoulder pain is associated with particular areas of tenderness, muscular involvement or movement restriction, or when the Primary Placement is not providing sufficient relief of symptoms.Under the Field | Dose | Placement (FDP) principle, additional placements should be selected according to where symptoms are felt, areas of tenderness, movement restriction and the individual’s response. It is generally better to select points that appear most relevant rather than routinely applying every point listed. Adjunct Placements may be used alongside the Primary Placement, at different times, or explored when the Primary Placement alone is not producing the desired response.

  

Recommended Additional Placements

Acupuncture Points

1. LI15 (Jianyu) – Quadrapolar or Hexapolar M
LI15 is a local shoulder acupuncture point situated around the anterolateral aspect of the shoulder. As an Adjunct Placement, it provides an additional local option when symptoms correspond with this region.

2. TE14 (Jianliao) – Quadrapolar or Hexapolar M
TE14 is another local shoulder point, positioned more towards the posterolateral aspect of the shoulder. It may be considered when tenderness or discomfort is more prominent around this part of the shoulder.

3. LI10 (Shousanli) – Small Quadrapolar or Medium Quadrapolar/Hexapolar  S / M
LI10 is located on the lateral aspect of the forearm, below the elbow. It provides a more remote acupuncture-point option that may complement the local Primary Placement.

4. LI11 (Quchi) – Small Quadrapolar or Medium Quadrapolar/Hexapolar S / M
LI11 is located around the lateral elbow region. Like LI10, it provides an optional remote placement rather than another magnet directly over the shoulder.

LI10 and LI11 are relatively close together. If both points are being used and there is insufficient space to maintain appropriate separation between larger magnets, a S Small magnet to be substituted.

Myofascial Trigger Points

5. Supraspinatus Trigger Point – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar L
The supraspinatus is one of the rotator cuff muscles and occupies the upper posterior surface of the scapula. Where a clinically relevant tender or sensitive point is identified within this muscle, it may be considered as an adjunct to the Primary Placement.

6. Infraspinatus – Large Quadrapolar or Hexapolar – L
The infraspinatus is a large rotator cuff muscle covering much of the posterior scapula. A focal tender or sensitive area within this muscle may provide an additional placement when it corresponds with the individual’s shoulder presentation.

7. Levator Scapulae Trigger Point – Small Quadrapolar or Medium Quadrapolar/Hexapola – L
The levator scapulae extends between the upper cervical region and the upper medial border of the scapula. Where tenderness in this muscle accompanies shoulder discomfort or restricted movement, an identified trigger point may be considered as an additional placement.

These are the shoulder-specific acupuncture and trigger-point placements identified in the Q Magnets Adjunct Placements reference.

Practical Placement Guidance

Begin with the Primary Placement shown in the Shoulder Pain Treatment Protocol. The protocol describes placement around the shoulder joint and, for acute shoulder pain associated with overuse or strain, additional placement over relevant areas of muscle tenderness.

Only then consider whether one or more Adjunct Placements are appropriate.

Where practical, gently palpate the relevant areas and prioritise points that correspond with:

• local tenderness or sensitivity
• the distribution of shoulder discomfort
• muscular tenderness
• movement restriction
• the individual’s broader clinical presentation.

Do not assume that every listed acupuncture point or trigger point needs treatment.

When using multiple Q Magnets, allow sufficient separation between devices to minimise magnetic field interference. This is particularly relevant around LI10 and LI11 because the two acupuncture points may be too close to accommodate larger magnets simultaneously. In that situation, select the supported S category where necessary.

Accurate placement remains an important component of FDP. Magnet size, field characteristics, target depth, anatomical coverage and placement all contribute to the overall application.

Not every Adjunct Placement will be appropriate for every person. Selection should be guided by the individual’s symptoms, pain distribution, tenderness, movement restriction and clinical presentation.

Shoulder pain can have different causes, including conditions involving the shoulder itself as well as referred or neurological presentations. Persistent, unexplained or severe symptoms should be professionally assessed. The Shoulder Pain Treatment Protocol specifically advises expert medical assessment for presentations such as hemiplegic shoulder pain following stroke or brain haemorrhage.

These recommendations are educational guidance only and are not a substitute for diagnosis, medical assessment or treatment recommended by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.