1. Flexor Hallucis Brevis

Origin: Plantar surface of the cuboid and cuneiforms

Insertion: Both sides of the base of proximal phalanx of digit 1

Action: Assists with flexion of digit 1

Innervation: Medial plantar nerve (S2/S3)

Flexor hallucis brevis 
Figure 6.2 Flexor hallucis brevis, adapted by Uwe Gille from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone

Palpation: Palpate the plantar aspect of digit 1 metatarsal

Technique:

    1. Needle directly perpendicular to this muscle using digit 1 metatarsal
    2. Needle just inferior to the navicular tubercle in a medial to lateral direction (catch all technique for foot intrinsic muscles)

Caution: Low – interdigital nerve

Needling flexor hallucis brevis.
Figure 6.3 Needling flexor hallucis brevis, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Needling flexor hallucis brevis.
Figure 6.4 Needling flexor hallucis brevis, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 6.1 Needling flexor hallucis brevis, 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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