BL-56 - Support the Sinews

承筋 - Chéng jīn

Point Region: Lower leg

BL

Bladder Meridian

足太阳膀胱经 - Zú Tàiyáng Pángguāng Jīng

Location & How to Find

Anatomical Location: On the back of the lower leg, between the two bellies of the calf muscle (gastrocnemius), 5 cun below the crease behind the knee, midway between BL-55 and BL-57.

Distances are in cun, a unit that scales with each person's body. As a guide, the width of your thumb at its joint is 1 cun, and your four fingers held together, measured across the middle joints, are 3 cun.

How to Locate:

  1. Find BL-55 and BL-57 on the middle line of the calf
  2. The point is halfway between them
BL-56 (Support the Sinews) acupressure point location: On the back of the lower leg, between the two bellies of the calf muscle (gastrocnemius), 5 cun below the crease behind the knee, midway between BL-55 and BL-57.

How to Apply Pressure

Using a fingertip, apply gentle, steady pressure on the middle line of the back of your lower calf, between the two bellies of the calf muscle, midway between the calf points BL-55 and BL-57. Firm but never painful pressure is enough; stop if it hurts. Skip this point over irritated or broken skin.

Traditional Indications

In TCM, this point is traditionally used for:

  • Calf pain
  • Lumbar contracture
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Leg cramps

Related Health Concerns

Cramps

Select a point to see its location, how to find it, and its traditional uses.