Muscles
Flexor Digitorum Brevis (Foot) Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Leg, Ankle and Foot
Flexor Digitorum Brevis (Foot) 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. Flexes the proximal IP joints of toes 2–5.
Where you feel it
Where the pain spreads: Ball of the foot and central plantar arch. What often sets it off: Long-distance walking, overpronation, weak intrinsics.
Overview
Flexes the proximal IP joints of toes 2–5. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Central plantar foot.
Referred pain pattern
Ball of the foot and central plantar arch.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Long-distance walking, overpronation, weak intrinsics.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Intrinsic strengthening, gait retraining. Clinically: needling.
Treatment protocol
For Flexor Digitorum Brevis (Foot), the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course.
Regional precaution for clinicians: In the calf, ankle and foot the tibial nerve and posterior tibial vessels in the deep posterior compartment, the common peroneal nerve at the fibular neck and the plantar neurovascular bundle guide needle placement.
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
