11. Quadratus Femoris

Origin: Lateral border of the ischial tuberosity

Insertion: Quadrate tubercle on the intertrochanteric crest of the femur and just inferior to it

Action:

  • Laterally rotates the femur
  • Assists with stabilization of the hip

Innervation: Nerve to Quadratus femoris (L5/S1)

Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions with current muscle highlighted.
Figure 2.26 Quadratus femoris, adapted by Mikael Häggström from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone or side lying with the hip flexed

Palpation: Difficult to palpate this muscle – try to palpate it just under or at the gluteal fold

Technique: Needle in a inferior to superior direction laterally just off midline at the gluteal fold

Caution: Moderate – the sciatic nerve lies directly overtop of this muscle in midline

Needling of quadratus femoris
Figure 2.27 Needling of quadratus femoris, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 2.11 Needling of quadratus femoris, 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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