8. Deltoid

Origin: Lateral 1/3 of the clavicle, acromion and spine of the scapula

Insertion: Deltoid tuberosity

Action:

  • Anterior portion: flexes and medial rotates the arm
  • Middle portion: abduction of the arm
  • Posterior portion: extends and laterally rotates the arm

Innervation: Axillary nerve (C5/6)

Deltoid mucsle.
Figure 9.17 Deltoid muscle, by Anatomography, CC BY-SA 2.1 JP.

Needling

Position: Various (supine, prone, sitting)

Palpation: Palpate the deltoid tuberosity and trace the deltoid up from there, identifying the 3 different fiber directions (anterior, middle, and posterior)

Technique: Needle perpendicular towards the humerus

Caution: Low – moderate in the presence of a subdeltoid bursitis

Needling anterior deltoid.
Figure 9.18 Needling anterior deltoid, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Needling posterior deltoid.
Figure 9.19 Needling posterior deltoid, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Needling middle deltoid.
Figure 9.20 Needling middle deltoid, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 9.8 Needling deltoid, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 9.9 Needling deltoid, 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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