Muscles
Flexor pollicis longus
Flexes the thumb's interphalangeal joint.
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.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction