2. Lumbricals

Origin: Tendons of the flexor digitorum longus

Insertion: Medial aspect of expansion over digit 2-5

Action:

  • Flex proximal phalanges 2-5
  • Extends middle and distal phalanges 2-5

Innervation:

  • Medial one: Medial plantar nerve (S2/3)
  • Lateral three: Lateral plantar nerve (S2/3)
Foot muscles, plantar view.
Figure 5.4 Lumbricals, adapted by Pngbot (mikm) from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone

Palpation: Palpate the tendons of flexor digitorum longus

Technique: Needle just lateral to the tendons (same technique as for interossei)

Caution: Low – higher risk of hitting an interdigital nerve

Needling lumbricals.
Figure 5.5 Needling lumbricals, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 5.2 Needling lumbricals, 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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