SHOULDER OR ARM PAIN? ⠀ TERES MINOR MUSCLE ⠀ ANATOMY, FUNCTION, PATHOLOGY, PALPATION & SELF-TREATMENT ⠀ Teres minor is a narrow muscle which lies below infraspinatus, above teres major and triceps brachii, and deep to deltoid. It is one of the four muscles which comprise the Rotator Cuff. ⠀ It originates at the upper two-thirds of the lateral border of the scapula. The upper fibres end in a tendon which inserts into the inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. The lower fibres insert into the humerus directly below the inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. ⠀ Teres minor, along with Infraspinatus, primarily produces external rotation of the shoulder joint. It assists in adduction and extension of the shoulder. When the humerus is stabilized, it abducts the inferior angle of the scapula. ⠀ In concert with the other rotator cuff muscles, Teres Minor is instrumental in providing stability to the shoulder joint, and helps to hold the humeral head in the glenoid cavity of the scapula. ⠀ Muscular problems in the teres minor muscle can mimic and feel like bursitis in your shoulder. ⠀ Common people that suffer are the ones that also are prone to suffer from infraspinatus problems. Those include, but are not limited to Rock climbers, Tennis/Volleyball/Handball/Baseball players, Swimmers or Painters. ⠀ Trigger points in your teres minor can make it ache right at the location of these spots, but also send pain to other, more distant parts of your body. If your teres minor contains trigger points, it mainly will give you pain at the side of your shoulder Beside that, pain can radiate slightly into the backside of your arm. Because of this, it can contribute to back of shoulder pain! ⠀ As this muscle supports the infraspinatus you will understand that trigger points or excessive muscle tension in this muscle will affect the same movements. ⠀ But in general, the movements that will cause pain or that may be impaired are the ones where you rotate your shoulder outwards and reach backwards, like putting on your jacket.