Acupoint locations and standards used for locating acupoints used in this trial*
| Acupoints | Locations of the acupoints | Procedures for locating the acupoints |
| SI15 (肩中兪) | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), 2 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line. | SI15 is located at the intersection of two imaginary lines: the vertical line of the junction of the lateral one third and the medial two thirds of the line connecting the posterior median line with the medial border of the scapula and the horizontal line inferior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7). |
| TE15 (天髎) | In the scapular region, in the depression superior to the superior angle of the scapula. | With the upper limb hanging by the side of the trunk in a seated position, TE15 is located midway between GB21 and SI13. |
| LI16 (巨骨) | On the shoulder girdle, in the depression between the acromial end of the clavicle and the spine of the scapula. | In the depression between the two bones lateral to the suprascapular fossa. |
| GB20 (風池) | In the anterior region of the neck, inferior to the occipital bone, in the depression between the origins of sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius muscles. Note: GB20 is at the same level as GV16. | |
| BL10 (天柱) | In the posterior region of the neck, at the same level as the superior border of the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra (C2), in the depression lateral to the trapezius muscle. | |
| GV14 (大椎) | In the posterior region of the neck, in the depression inferior to the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7), on the posterior median line. | When the head is in a neutral position while the subject is seated, the most prominent site on the posterior aspect of the neck is the spinous process of the C7. Forward flexion of the neck may facilitate palpation of the C7 spinous process. Note: Slight rotation of C7 can be palpated by rotating the head with the neck slightly flexed. |
| SI14 (肩外兪) | In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), 3 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line. | Note 1: SI14 is located at the intersection of two imaginary lines: the vertical line of the medial extremity of the spine of the scapula and the horizontal line inferior to the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1). Note 2: SI14 is located at the same level as BL11, GV13, and the inferior border of the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1). |
| EX-B2 (Huatuo Jiaji) | In the lying about 0.5 cun bilateral to the posterior median line, between the third cervical vertebrae and the fifth cervical vertebrae. |
*Adopted from WHO. WHO standard acupuncture point locations in the Western Pacific Region. WHO standard acupuncture point locations in the Western Pacific Region 2008. B-cun, proportional bone (skeletal) cun.