Locations of non-acupoints in the sham acupuncture group
| Non-acupoints | Locations | |
| Non-acupoint 1 | Bilateral | In the middle of Daheng (SP15) and Zhangmen (LR13) points (lateral aspect) |
| Non-acupoint 2 | Bilateral | In the medial arm on the anterior border of the insertion of the deltoid muscle at the junction of the deltoid and biceps muscles |
| Non-acupoint 3 | Bilateral | On the same level 1–2 cun* outboard lateral of the ST36 |
| Non-acupoint 4 | Bilateral | In the middle of the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the styloid process of ulna |
*1 cun (≈20 mm) is defined as the width of the interphalangeal joint of patient’s thumb.