落枕 : Luozhen : Fell off Pillow (expression for a stiff neck after sleeping)

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

Location:

On the dorsum of the hand, in the depression just proximal to the second and third metacarpo-phalangeal joints.

Needling:

Perpendicular or oblique insertion directed proximally 0.5 - 1 cun

TCM Actions:

Invigorates Qi and Blood in the neck region

TCM Indications:

• Stiffness and pain of the neck, inability to turn the head, headache, pain of the shoulder and arm.
  
• Pain of the epigastrium, diarrhoea, acute and chronic Childhood Fright Wind.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Superficial branch of radial nerve (C6 - C8)

Dermatome Segment: C7

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Second dorsal interosseous

Location Notes:
Together with radial Yaotongxue. Trigger points for the other interossei may be found anywhere between the metacarpals

Pain Referral Pattern:
To radial side of middle finger

Indications:
Arthritic pain in the fingers ; Heberden's nodes

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Notes:

Commonly used for acute pain and stiffness of the neck where the point is manipulated while the patient is asked to flex, extend and rotate the neck (Deadman et al, 2001).

In Thai massage:
Acupressure point indicated for gastrointestinal ailments, indigestion, stomach ache and shoulder pain/injury/arthritis (Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage)

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here