In the human body - a huge number of different muscles. And each of them has its own purpose. The muscles of the shoulder girdle are very important for human motor activity. Small but important for movement is the infraspinatus muscle, which is part of the shoulder girdle. What is this muscle and what is it for?
Shoulder girdle
First of all, it is necessary to consider what kind of belt it is and what its functions are. Between the trunk and the free upper limb, it is the shoulder girdle that serves as a unifying link. Its muscles cover the shoulder joint from all sides, thereby strengthening it. When they are reduced, a variety of hand movements are provided. They begin on the scapula and collarbone and are attached to the upper part of the humerus. The main function is the movement of the arm in the shoulder joint.
The muscles of the shoulder girdle include the following: deltoid, supraspinatus and infraspinatus, teres major and minor, and subscapularis. Let's talk in this article about the infraspinatus.
Location
Infraspinatus refers todeep small dorsal muscles. It is located under the spine of the scapula, in an area called the infraspinatus fossa of the scapula. Due to the fact that the infraspinatus muscle is flat, it occupies almost the entire volume of the fossa, attaching to it. It ends with tendon bundles that attach to the large tubercle of the humerus.
Purpose
What is the function of the infraspinatus muscle? The main purpose is to participate in the following hand movements:
- Turn the shoulder outward from the torso;
- Retracting the raised shoulder.
Also, this muscle is partially involved in the extension of the arm in the shoulder joint. Due to the fact that it is also attached to the capsule of the shoulder girdle, when performing movements, it pulls it and thereby protects it from pinching.
Pain syndrome
The reason the infraspinatus brachii draws attention is very simple. After all, its damage is the most common source of pain in the shoulder. Such damage can occur due to too high loads when playing various sports: swimming, baseball or tennis. Any load that requires heavy rotation of the arm may result in injury. However, sedentary activities can also lead to spasms in the infraspinatus muscle, as well as pain in the area of the shoulder joint. Driving a car or working at a computer can lead to this.
For the treatment of pain syndrome infraspinatusmuscle there are quite a few methods. In most cases, when the muscle is slightly damaged, massage helps well, as well as physical exercises that restore elasticity and normal muscle tone. If the lesions and injuries are more serious, there is treatment with medication, physiotherapy, and pain relief at the site of injury.
Infraspinatus massage
As with any other massage, the main goal here is to improve blood circulation and relax the spasmed muscle. The simplest, but at the same time quite effective way to massage the infraspinatus muscle is the following. It is performed in the supine position. You need to place a small ball the size of a tennis ball under those points on your back that are most painful, and then relax for a few minutes. With the correct implementation of this method, the muscles get relaxation, and the pain disappears.
Exercise
For a given muscle, exercises can be conditionally divided into two types: stretching and strengthening. Exercises belonging to the first group are aimed at relieving excessive tension in the muscle, increasing flexibility in the shoulder joint, and also relieving stiffness in movements. The second group of exercises strengthens the infraspinatus tendon and itself.
Infraspinatus Stretch
- First stretching exercise: you need to put your hand behind your back at the level of the waist, then gently pull the other hand from the back and up. In this position, you need to keep your hand onfor twenty seconds.
- Second stretching exercise: you need to try to reach the opposite shoulder blade with your fingers.
- Third stretching exercise: stretch the arm in front of the chest and use the other hand to guide it towards the other half of the chest. Just do it without much stress. In this position, the hand is held for twenty seconds.
Strengthening the infraspinatus muscle
Due to the fact that this muscle is not the most active in the body, it needs several specific exercises for its development. The most effective in this regard are exercises that use blocks. For example, the horizontal row to the chest with different grips or the upper pull develops the infraspinatus muscle very well, as a result of which it strengthens and prevents stress injuries.
