1. Abductor Hallucis

Origin: Medial tubercle of calcaneal tuberosity and plantar aponeurosis

Insertion: Medial aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of D1

Action:

  • Abducts the great toe (D1)
  • Flexes the great toe (D1)

Innervation: Medial plantar nerve (S2/3)

Abductor hallucis.
Figure 4.2 Abductor hallucis, adapted by Uwe Gille from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone

Palpation: Palpate the medial side of the great toe on the plantar surface

Technique: Needle perpendicularly towards the first metatarsal

Caution: Low

Needling of abductor hallucis longus.
Figure 4.3 Needling of abductor hallucis, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 4.1 Needling of abductor hallucis longus, 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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