Research Article

Manual and Electroacupuncture for Labour Pain: Study Design of a Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 2

Acupuncture points used in the study.

PointsSegmental innervationTissueDepth (cun)

Distal points

GV 20Nn. trigeminus (V), occipitalis minor (C2), occipitalis major (C2-3)Aponeurosis epicranii0.3–0.5
LI 4Nn. medianus ulnaris (C8-Th1)Mm. interosseus dorsalis I, lumbricalis II, adductor pollicis0.5–1
SP 6N. tibialis (L4-S1)Mm. flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior0.5–1
LR 3N. plantaris lateralis (S2-3)M. interosseus dorsalis I0.3–0.5
PC6N. medianus (C8, Th1)M. flexor digitorum superficialis0.5–0.8
EX2N. trigeminusM. frontalis0.3–0.5
LU7N. cutaneus antebrachii lateralis (C5-6)Fibrous tissue0.3–0.5

Local points

SP 12N. thoracicus (Th7–12), lumbalis (L1)Aponeurosis mm. obliquus externus, abdominis internus0.5–1
BL 23Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6–8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1–3)Mm. serratus posterior inferior, erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 24Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6–8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1–3)Mm. erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 25Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6-8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1–3)Mm. erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 26Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6–8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1–3)Mm. erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 27Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6–8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1-3)Mm. erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 28Nn. thoracodorsalis (C6–8), thoracicus (Th9–12), lumbalis (L1–3)Mm. erector spinae, fascia thoracolumbalis0.8–1
BL 36N. gluteus inferior (L5–S2)M. gluteus maximus1–1.5
BL 54N. gluteus inferiorM. gluteus maximus1.5–2
GB 25N. thoracicus (Th7–12)M. obliquus externus abdominis0.3–0.5
GB 26N. thoracicus (Th7–12)M. obliquus externus abdominis0.5–0.8
GB 27Nn. thoracicus lumbalis (Th7–L1)Aponeurosis mm. obliquus externus, internus abdominis0.5–1
GB 28M. obliquus externus abdominisAponeurosis mm. obliquus externus, internus abdominis0.5–1
GB 29N. gluteus superior (L4–S1)M. tensor fasciae latae0.5–1
LR 10N. femoralis (L2-3)M. pectineus0.5–1
LR 11N. femoralis (L2-3)M. pectineus0.5–1
KI 11Nn. thoracicus (Th6–12), subcostalis (Th12)Mm. pyramidalis, rectus abdominis. Vagina m. recti abdominis0.5–1
ST 29N. thoracicus (Th6–12)M.rectus abdominis0.7–1.2
CV3N. iliohypogastric (L1)Fibrous tissue0.5–1
CV4N. subcostalis (Th12)Fibrous tissue0.5–1

GV: governor vessel channel, LI: large intestine channel, SP: spleen channel, LR: liver channel, PC: pericardium channel, EX: extra channel, LU: lung channel, BL: bladder channel, GB: gall bladder channel, KI: kidney channel, ST: stomach channel, CV: conception Vessel, Cun: traditional Chinese unit of length, 1 cun: width of the distal interphalangeal joint of the thumb.