8. Gluteus Minimus

Origin: External surface of the ilium between the anterior and inferior gluteal line

Insertion: Anterior surface of the greater trochanter of the femur

Action:

  • Abducts the thigh
  • Medially rotates the thigh

Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L5/S1)

Gluteus maximus, medius and minimus.
Figure 2.18 Gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, adapted by Mikael Häggström from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone or side lying

Palpation: Cannot palpate this muscle

Technique: Needle perpendicularly through the gluteus medius to get to gluteus minimus – Needle as per medius.

Caution: Low – as per medius

Needling of gluteus minimus.
Figure 2.19 Needling of gluteus minimus, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Needling of gluteus minimus
Figure 2.20 Needling of gluteus minimus, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 2.8 Needling of gluteus minimus, 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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