4. Flexor Pollicis Longus

Origin: Middle 1/2 of anterior surface of radius and adjacent interosseous membrane

Insertion: Base of the palmar distal phalanx of digit 1

Action: Flexes distal phalanx of digit 1

Innervation: Anterior interosseous nerve – a branch of the median nerve (C8/T1)

Flexor pollicis longus.
Figure 10.8 Flexor pollicis longus, by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Various (sitting/supine)

Palpation: Palpate the anterior radial aspect of the forearm and resist thumb flexion to help isolate this muscle

Technique: Needle perpendicular to this muscle using the radius as a bony backdrop

Caution: Low – caution of the median nerve that travels in the midline of the forearm

Needling flexor pollicis longus.
Figure 10.9 Needling flexor pollicis longus, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 10.4 Needling flexor pollicis 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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