Front of the Shoulder

肩前Jiān Qián

Anatomical location

Midpoint between the anterior end of the axillary fold and LI15 (Jianyu).

Main function

Activates the local collateral of the shoulder.

Therapeutic indications

Periarthritis of the shoulder (frozen shoulder)
pain when raising the arm

Name and classical tradition

Jianqian, 肩前, means “in front of the shoulder”: 肩, shoulder; 前, front. It lies halfway between the end of the anterior axillary fold and LI15, Jianyu. It is also called 肩內陵, the “inner mound of the shoulder.”

It is a modern point, adopted for its use in shoulder pain and stiffness, and it does not appear in any of the classical works we were able to check. Its name, like that of many recent points, is simply a position.

Location of point EX-JIANQIAN, Front of the Shoulder — Reusable plate · CC BY-ND 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

View point on the 3D modelEX-JIANQIAN on the anatomy

Needling techniquePerpendicular insertion.

Depth0.8-1.5 cun

MoxibustionApplicable.

PrecautionsNone in particular.

Protocols for the 20 patterns you see most in practice

Each pattern with its tongue, its pulse, the treatment principle and the points to tonify and disperse. Made for the treatment table, not the bookshelf.