Therapeutic benefits of acupoint massage at Yuji (LU10) and Zhaohai (KI6) for postoperative hoarseness in thyroid surgery patients
Lu M, Lu Y, Li J, Li Y, Chen Q · BMC Surgery · 2025 April 09
DOI 10.1186/s12893-025-02889-7
Objective
To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint massage at Yuji and Zhaohai in alleviating hoarseness following thyroid surgery.
Conclusions
Early postoperative acupoint massage stimulation of the thenar and Zhaohai points facilitates recovery from hoarseness after thyroid surgery, improves voice quality, and promotes voice rehabilitation.
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Insights
Acupoint massage at hand and ankle points may enhance recovery from hoarseness after thyroid surgery when added to standard treatment.
Patients who developed hoarseness after thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to receive either standard postoperative treatment with nerve-supporting medication or the same treatment plus acupoint massage at the Yuji hand point and Zhaohai ankle point. The study compared voice quality measures, associated symptom recovery, and patient satisfaction between groups.
Patients receiving additional acupoint massage showed greater improvements in subjective and objective voice measures, better recovery of accompanying symptoms, and higher satisfaction than those receiving standard treatment alone.
