Muscles
Anconeus Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Forearm and Hand
Anconeus Trigger Points are explored here through their location and referred pain pattern. Muscle knots is an everyday term used for tender muscular spots; myofascial pain describes pain involving muscle and its surrounding connective tissue. Small elbow extensor at the lateral elbow; a frequently missed contributor to lateral elbow pain and 'tennis elbow' complaints.
Where you feel it
When the Anconeus holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as lateral epicondylar pain. Where the pain spreads: Localised pain over the lateral epicondyle and just below it, rarely spreading far down the forearm. What often sets it off: Repetitive gripping and extension, racquet sports, screwdriver and tool work, prolonged mouse use, sudden eccentric loading of the elbow.
Overview
Anconeus is a short triangular muscle running from the lateral epicondyle to the olecranon and proximal ulna. It assists triceps in elbow extension and stabilises the joint during pronation and supination. Because it lies directly under the common extensor origin, its trigger points are easily mistaken for lateral epicondylalgia.
Trigger point locations
A single point in the muscle belly just distal and posterior to the lateral epicondyle, in the triangle between olecranon and epicondyle.
Referred pain pattern
Localised pain over the lateral epicondyle and just below it, rarely spreading far down the forearm.
Palpation & testing
With the elbow flexed to about 90 degrees and resting on a table, palpate the soft triangle between the olecranon and the lateral epicondyle; flat pressure reproduces the familiar elbow pain.
Common causes
Repetitive gripping and extension, racquet sports, screwdriver and tool work, prolonged mouse use, sudden eccentric loading of the elbow.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Load management, isometric and eccentric wrist extensor loading, self-massage over the lateral elbow triangle. Clinically: needling of anconeus alongside triceps and the wrist extensor group, which are usually involved together.
Treatment protocol
For Anconeus, the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: With the elbow flexed to about 90 degrees and resting on a table, palpate the soft triangle between the olecranon and the lateral epicondyle; flat pressure reproduces the familiar elbow pain.
Regional precaution for clinicians: In the forearm and hand the median nerve at the pronator teres, the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel and Guyon's canal, the radial nerve in the supinator arcade and the radial artery at the wrist are all superficial and must be avoided; needles are short and angled away from the neurovascular bundles.
Primary Symptoms
Often confused with
These muscles cause the same primary symptoms, so they are checked together:
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
References
- • triggerpoints.net — reference
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
