Determining maximal safe needling depth based on anthropometric measurements: Focusing on acupoint GB21

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2018.05.006
• Publication Date: 2018-05-19T12:08:13Z
• Authors: Hongmin Chu; Geon Kang; Seongjun Park; Jaehyun Kim; Jongwon Jang; Kyungtae Park; Wonbae Ha; Jae-Hyo Kim; Sanghun Lee
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Abstract Introduction BMI and body weight have been regarded as factors that determine an individual’s needling depth. But in previous research on GB21 (jianjing), we observed various cases in which subjects with the same BMI had a different safe needling depth. GB21 is high risk acupoint that can occur pneumothorax, So precise and safe treatment is required. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between needling depth and various anthropometric parameters, focusing on acupoint GB21. Methods Ultrasonographic images GB21 from 52 (24 male and 28 female) healthy volunteers were recorded during normal respiration. Subject‘s weight, height, neck circumference, shoulder width, chest circumference, and abdominal circumference were also measured. Results BMI was positively associated with maximal safe needling depth (r = 0.48, p Conclusion Although BMI has been traditionally used as an important index in determining needling depths, our study showed that anthropometric parameters have a higher correlation with maximal safe needling depth on a high-risk acupoint associated with organ damage. Thus, anthropometric parameters may be potentially useful as an initial screening tool to avoid adverse effects of Acupoint GB21.