2. Abductor Pollicis Longus

Origin: Posterior surface of the ulna, radius, and interosseous membrane

Insertion: Base of first metacarpal

Action:

  • Abducts the thumb
  • Extends the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint

Innervation: Posterior interosseous nerve (C7/C8)

Abductor pollicis longus.
Figure 9.4 Abductor pollicis longus, adapted by Engusz from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Various (sitting, supine, prone) but with arm pronated

Palpation: Palpate approximately the middle 1/3 of the dorsal aspect of the forearm – Isolate muscle by asking patient to abduct and extend thumb

Technique: Needle perpendicular between radius and ulna

Caution: Low

Needling abductor pollicis longus.
Figure 9.5 Needling abductor pollicis, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 9.2 Needling abductor 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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