2. Soleus

Origin: Posterior aspect of the tibia along the soleal line, posterior aspect of the superior 1/3 of fibula and the interosseous membrane

Insertion: Posterior aspect of the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon

Action: Plantar flexion of the ankle/foot

Innervation: Tibial nerve (S1/2)

Soleus.
Figure 1.5 Soleus, by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone

Palpation: This muscle can be palpated through the gastrocnemius more laterally on the calf

Technique:

    1. Needle perpendicular to the calf either medial or lateral to midline
    2. Needle in a slight oblique direction away from midline

Caution: Low – avoid midline to avoid the tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery and vein

Needling soleus perpendicularly just off midline.
Figure 1.6 Needling soleus perpendicularly just off midline, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 1.2 Needling soleus, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0. 

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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