Objective To explore the regularity of distribution of press-sensitive acupoints on the body surface in tinnitus patients

so as to provide evidence for selecting suitable acupuncture points in the treatment of tinnitus.Methods Sixty-three cases of tinnitus patients(from 25 to 75years in age)were recruited in the present study.The patient was asked to take a sitting

supine and prone position

successively

and the operator used the thumb to moderately press the subject's head

neck

back

four limbs below the knee-and elbow joints along the three Hand-and three Foot-yang and yin meridians.Those acupoints that appeared pressing pain

or soreness-distension

numbness

or radiation feeling more than 10 times were brought into the sequence analysis by using the Excel 2010.Results A total of 131press-sensitive acupoints including 41 points with an appearance frequency of more than 10 times were found in the 63 tinnitus patients.These 41 acupoints distributing in the top three meridians were the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang

Tri-energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang and Spleen Meridian of FootTaiyin

and their involved regions were those below the knee-joints

bilateral sides of the head and marginal portion of the ear

sites bellow the elbow-joints

back-waist

successively in the appearance frequency.The top ten acupoints are Wangu(GB 12)

Yifeng(SJ 17)

Waiguan(SJ 5)

Quchi(LI 11)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

Yanglingquan(GB 34)

Fengchi(GB 20)

Taichong(LR 3)

Shousanli(LI 10)and Zulinqi(GB 41)

in sequence.Conclusion The press-sensitive acupoints in tinnitus patients distribute principally in the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang

and below the knee-joint

and the most sensitive acupoints are Wangu(GB 12)and Yifeng(SJ 17).These findings may provide an objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus.