Muscles
Flexor Pollicis Longus Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Forearm and Hand
Flexor Pollicis 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 thumb's interphalangeal joint.
Where you feel it
When the Flexor Pollicis Longus holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as thumb & radial hand pain. Where the pain spreads: Tip of the thumb and base of the thumb. What often sets it off: Texting thumb, gaming, repetitive thumb use.
Overview
Flexes the thumb's interphalangeal joint. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Anterior forearm deep along the radius.
Referred pain pattern
Tip of the thumb and base of the thumb.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Texting thumb, gaming, repetitive thumb use.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Thumb-down stretches, ergonomic correction. Clinically: needling, addressing forearm chain.
Treatment protocol
For Flexor Pollicis 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 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.
Secondary Symptoms
Related muscles in this region
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
