A Single Session of Acupuncture Therapy with Combination of Balance Method and Distal Point for the Treatment of Shoulder Calcific Tendinitis: A Case Report

Background: Tendinitis is a term that is often used to describe various regional musculoskeletal conditions that are common and often occur, which are described mainly by pain and disability at the affected site. In calcareous (or calcific) tendinitis (CT) of the shoulder, a calcified deposit (hydroxyapatite) is located within 1 or more of the rotator cuff tendons (commonly the supraspinatus). CT is found in 10%–42% of chronic shoulder pain. Conservative treatment is always the first line of treatment. Acupuncture has been widely accepted by patients who experience musculoskeletal pain compared with other nonsurgical modalities and it is a minimal risk intervention. Case: A 56-year-old woman was diagnosed with shoulder CT. Physical examination revealed limited range of motion (ROM) in abduction (78.6°) and lateral rotation (82.5°) of the right shoulder joint with a pain scale using numeric rating scale (NRS) assessment score of 5 (with diclofenac sodium 2 × 50 mg since 1 day ago). She received single session of acupuncture with balance method and distal point with a total of 10 needles, then all needles were retained for 45 minutes and the therapy was done only unilaterally. Then follow-up was made 2 days later. Results: After the session ended, NRS assessment score reduced from 5 to 2, ROM in abduction and lateral rotation of the right shoulder was improved, respectively, to 179.2° and 150.4°. In follow-up 2 days after, ROM in abduction and lateral rotation became 168.9° and 147.8°, respectively, and NRS was still 2. Conclusions: Acupuncture with the use of the balance method and distal point effectively relieved the pain and improved ROM of CT even after 2 days.