To compare the immediate effect of acupuncture at the contralateral versus ipsilateral Tiaokou (ST38) in patients with Chronic shoulder pain (CSP).

Altogether, 38 patients with unilateral CSP were randomly assigned to a contralateral ST38 group (Contra group) or ipsilateral ST38 group (Ipsi group). Each underwent 20 min of manual acupuncture: Contra group at the contralateral ST38, Ipsi group at the ipsilateral ST38. Primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcome measure for assessing shoulder mobility was the Constant-Murley (CM) score, which included pain level, activities of daily living (ADL), and shoulder range of motion (ROM). These factors were assessed before and immediately after acupuncture. A value of P < .05 indicated significance.

VAS scores decreased immediately after treatment in both groups, but the effect was significantly greater in the Contra group (P = .043). CM scores also improved in both groups, but the Contra group improved significantly more (P = .002). The CM's pain and ADL scores were similar in the two groups (P = .055 and P = .193, respectively), but ROM and strength scores were better in the Contra group than in the Ipsi group (P = .003 and P = .037, respectively). No adverse effects were reported.

The immediate effect of acupuncture at the contralateral ST38 may be superior to that at the ipsilateral ST38 in CSP patients.