Neck & Limb (Shoulder, elbow, wrist) Flashcards
What is the brachial plexus?
The brachial plexus is a major network of nerves transmitting signals responsible for motor and sensory innervation of the upper extremities, including the shoulder, arm, and hand.
Where does the brachial plexus start?
Starts around C5, C6, C7, C8, T1
C8 means in between C7 & T1
What is ST12 & ST13 close to anatomically?
ST12 is close to the brachial plexus
ST13 is close to the subclavius, pec major and minor
What is the rotator cuff?
Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis that insert into the head of the humerus
What muscles does LU2 act on?
Pec major and minor
What muscles do SI9, SI11, SI12, SI14 & SI15 act on?
SI9 Teres major
SI11 Infraspinatus
SI12 supraspinatus
SI14 levator scapulae
SI15 Splenius cervicis
What muscles do SJ13 and SJ15 act on?
SJ13 Triceps
SJ15 Trapezius
What tests are good for carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Tinel’s Sign
- Phalen’s Test
- Reverse Phalen’s Test
- Carpal Compression Test
What is carpal tunnel?
Carpal tunnel is compression of the median nerve. It can cause symptoms such as numbness, parathesis, burning pain, a feeling of the hand falling asleep decreased grip strength.
What points can be used to treat carpal tunnel?
- PC 7 needle distally into carpal tunnel
- Baxie (M-UE-22)
- PC 6 or TE 5
- Dermal hammer (especially in early stages)
- Moxibustion may be beneficial
- Massage and stretching of the anterior aspect of the wrist
*C5-T1 HuatoJiaJi Points
How are trigger points classified?
Location, tenderness and chronicity
Central (or primary)
Satellite (or secondary)
Attachment, diffuse, inactive (or latent) and active
What are central trigger points?
Central trigger points exist in the centre of the muscle belly where the motor end plate enters the muscle
What are satellite (or secondary) trigger points?
May be a created response to the central trigger point in neighbouring muscles that lie within the referred pain zone. Often resolve once the primary point have been effectively rendered inactive.
What are inactive (or latent) trigger points?
Lumps and nodules that feel like trigger points. Are not painful. May lead to increased muscular stiffness.
What is referred pain?
The defining symptom of a myofascial trigger point
What points can be used for electroacupuncture for carpal tunnel?
PC6, PC7, H7, LU9
Connect with electroacupuncture begin with 25Hz microcurrent for 25-30 minutes, then gradually increase to millicurrent to 2 Hz if required
What does SMART stand for in SMART treatments?
S = Sensory
M = Motor
A = Autonomic
R = Radiculopathy
T = Trigger / Ahshi
What is a SMART treatment for carpal tunnel?
Sensory: Digital Cutaneous Branch of Median Nerve (needle obliquely towards palm PC-7). Palmar cutaneous branch of median nerve (PC-6) is spared in CTS.
Motor: Median Nerve and Anterior Interosseous Nerve (PC-3)
Autonomic: PC- 6 on asymptomatic side (Parasympathetic), Vasomotor Segments:
T5- T7
Radiculopathy: C5-T1
Trigger/Ashi: Muscle tendons of Carpal Tunnel to be considered include Flexor Pollicis Longus (LU-6) Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (PC-4) Flexor Digitorum Profundus (Bi Zhong)
What channels contribute to CTS? Where would you needle according to the Tan method?
CTS affects the LU and PC Channels, so you are looking for a channel that treats both. The LR Channel fits this requirement.
Needling points at the Ankle to treat the wrist
What are some other therapies that are beneficial in CTS?
- Laser (LLLT)
- Electro acupuncture
- Moxa including needle head moxibustion
- Gua sha
- Tuina techniques above and below area
What is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?
Gamers thumb is a condition caused by repetitive movements of the extensor pollicus brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicus longus (APL) tendons
What is Tenosynovitis?
- Pain
- Near the radial styloid process – suddenly or gradually
- On movement of thumb and wrist
- Worse for use
- Worse with resisted thumb abduction and extension
- Swelling if condition is severe Crepitus if chronic
Difficulty moving the joint - Look for a Positive Finkelstein’s test
What are some local points for Gamers thumb?
- Treat affected channels to relieve pain
- LU 7, 8, 9, 10
- Subcutaneous needling alongside the affected tendons
- Tui Na on the upper back, shoulder and arm
- Callison adds in threading from LU7 towards LI5 under the APL tendon at an angle of less than 10 degrees
What is a SMART treatment for Gamers thumb?
Sensory: Superficial Branch of the Radial Nerve (LI-4, LI-5) Motor: Posterior Interosseous Nerve (LI-9)
Autonomic: HT-6, Vasomotor Segments: T5-T7 Radiculopathy: C6-C8
Trigger/Ashi: Extensor Pollicis Brevis (TE-6), and Abductor Pollicis Longus (TE-8)
Additional Points and Considerations:
(LI-5) as it is the tendon pathway of Extensor Pollicis Brevis (LU-9) due to tendonous attachment of Abductor Pollicis Longus (LU-6) Flexor Pollicis Longus for its antagonist role
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
It is a chronic inflammatory disease that begins in the synovial membrane. It is an autoimmune condition.
What are the symptoms of RA?
- Gradual Onset (Systemic)
- Malaise, lethargy, weight loss, generalised muscle pains
- Joint pain and stiffness (after rest)
- Swelling & deformity
- Affects small, peripheral joints first (symmetrical)
What is RA in terms of TCM?
RA is a Wind Cold Damp Bi that has now turned to heat. In the Active RA phase, the heat is more predominant or possibly is more swelling rather than heat; dampness is predominant
What points can be used during the heat phase of RA?
Heat phase - Points such as LI4, LI11, GV14, ST44 are required as well as local joint bleeding jing well points, Wuhu 11.27 points, local Baxie and Shangbaxie points
What points can be used during the damp phase of RA?
In the more damp phase points such as SP9, SP6, ST36, SP5, Master Tung Points 88.09, 88.10, 88.11 are used
What are tension headaches?
- Involves pain in the head. The most common type is tension headache
- Tension headaches usually originate from the sub occipital region and can often be reproduced with palpation through the neck and shoulder girdle region
- GB20 & BL10 surrounding muscles are often involved
What are distal points that can be used in the treatment of tension headaches?
- Vertex LR3/LI1, LU7, HT7
- Frontal LI4, ST36, ST43, PC channel muscle points PC3
- Temporal / Parietal regions GB31, TE3, TE5, GB41, GB40
- Taiyang HT3, muscular areas of the Heart channel
- Occipital SI3, BL60, BL62, BL65, BL67, LU7, Occipital regions
- Acute three Yin or three Yang Jing Wells on either hand or foot
- Ear points
What points can be used for electroacupuncture for headaches?
- GB2 superficial threaded downwards towards SI17, connected to the same side
- LI4 bilateral (neck innervation from C1-T1)
- ST36 connected to the same side SP6 bilaterally
- EA dosage 25Hz
- 2/100 Hz for subsequent treatments (targeting the opioid release system)
What are some other points that can be used to treat tension headaches?
- Local points combined with distal points on the same channel or a channel that balances
- Distal if very acute
- LI4 for pain and expelling pathogens
- Moxa over cold areas
- Electro & laser
- Ear acupuncture (vagus nerve)
- Needle retention for longer than 20 minutes of they have a headache during treatment
What is TMD?
- Consists of the masseter muscle and temporalis muscle
What is a treatment/s for TMD?
- The masseter muscle can be accessed through ST6 & ST7
- LI4 can be used as it is the command point for the mouth and face, useful to needle with jaw movement
What are some treatment ideas for muscular neck conditions?
- Local points GB20, BL10, Dijia, GB21, SI16, GV14, GV16, Chonggu, neck HJJ
Distal points
* LU7 to LU9 threading for nape and pain going to the occiput (BL sinew)
* SI3/BL62 for occipital pain (Taiyang)
* GB40 for GB20/GB21 pain (shaoyang)
* BL60 for BL10 pain
* Opposite SP5.5 for levator scap insertion pain (SI or TE)
* Opposite SP5/LR4 scalene pain referral along TE or SI channels
* Opposite side KI3-KI7 zone SCM pain (LI channel)
What is a treatment for muscular neck problems according to Legge?
- Legge suggests tender points on the back of the opposite hand for acute neck pain
- Luozhen and SoJin
- Needle with strong stimulation while the patient moves their neck within pain free range
What methods can be used to treat muscular neck conditions?
- EA, heat, laser, cupping and gua sha
- Cupping with small cups on the larger muscles and posterior to SCM
- Moxa to get muscles out of spasm and to increase blood flow
- Zheng gu shui or Po sum on
What is the Levator Scapulae in neck pain?
- Common muscle in neck pain to release
- Look for elevated LS
How to treat the levator scap contributing to neck pain?
- Extra point Dijia
- Motor point for the LS
- HJJ points spinal segments C3-C5 perpendicular insertion 0.5-1.5
- Electro or pointer 10Hz
What is CERVICAL SPONDYLOPATHY?
- Neck degeneration
- Common cause of chronic neck pain
- Abnormal wear on the cartilage and cervical vertebrae of the neck, spurs may also be present
- Degeneration of the discs causes compression on the nerve roots
What is Whiplash?
- Rapid neck flexion and extension with tissue damage to the muscles, ligaments and joints of the neck and upper thorax