3. Plantaris

Origin: Lateral supracondylar ridge of the femur

Insertion: Posterior aspect of the calcaneus via the Achilles tendon

Action:

  • Weak plantar flexor of the foot/ankle
  • Weak plantar flexor of the knee on a stationary lower leg

Innervation: Tibial nerve (S1/2)

Plantaris.
Figure 1.7 Plantaris, by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).
Neurovascular bundle of the calf.
Figure 1.8 Neurovascular bundle of the calf, by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Prone

Palpation: Not palpable

Technique: Needle perpendicular towards the posterior aspect of the femur at the lateral supracondylar ridge

Caution: Moderate – avoid midline to avoid popliteal artery and vein

Pretending to needling plantaris - lateral to midline.
Figure 1.9 Pretending to needling plantaris – lateral to midline, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 1.3 Needling plantaris, 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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