Muscles
Flexor Hallucis Longus Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Leg, Ankle and Foot
Flexor Hallucis Longus 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 big toe; supports push-off.
Where you feel it
When the Flexor Hallucis Longus holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as first steps in the morning feel as if walking on nails and plantar great toe pain. Where the pain spreads: Plantar surface of the big toe and ball of the foot. What often sets it off: Running, ballet, repetitive push-off.
Overview
Flexes the big toe; supports push-off. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Deep posterior lower leg.
Referred pain pattern
Plantar surface of the big toe and ball of the foot.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Running, ballet, repetitive push-off.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Big-toe mobility, intrinsic work. Clinically: needling.
Treatment protocol
For Flexor Hallucis Longus, 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.
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
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
