Infraspinatus Muscle Trigger Point Therapy

5/1/2018

The infraspinatus muscle is a thick triangular muscle, which occupies the chief part of the infraspinatous fossa. As one of the four muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function of the infraspinatus is to externally rotate the humerus and stabilize the shoulder joint

It attaches medially to the infraspinous fossa of the scapula and laterally to the middle facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus.

The muscle arises by fleshy fibers from the medial two-thirds of the infraspinatous fossa, and by tendinous fibers from the ridges on its surface; it also arises from the infraspinatous fascia which covers it, and separates it from the teres major and teres minor.

Function
Infraspinatus is the main external rotator of the shoulder. When the arm is fixed, it abducts the inferior angle of the scapula. Its synergists are teres minor and the deltoid. iIfraspinatus and teres minor rotate the head of the humerus outward (external, or lateral, rotation); they also assist in carrying the arm backward.
Additionally, the infraspinatus reinforces the capsule of the shoulder joint.

Trigger Points
Infraspinatus has 3 trigger points .

The 2 superior trigger point refurre pain to the Deltoid, downd the arm and into the suboccipital region
The 1 inferior trigger point refurres pain to the medial boarder of the scapula and into the lateral boarded of the Rhomboid muscle.