Infraspinatus muscle pain can be a real nuisance. This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, and exercises to relieve infraspinatus pain. We’ll also cover some prevention tips to help you stay as pain-free as possible!
To understand what causes infraspinatus pain, let’s first look at the anatomy and physiology of the muscle to understand better its role in movement and how it can become dysfunctional and injured.
The infraspinatus is a triangular muscle covering the infraspinatus fossa’s posterior surface. It arises by tendinous fibers from the lower half of the infraspinatus fossa and inserts into the greater tubercle of the humeral head.
The infraspinatus muscle acts to rotate the arm at the shoulder joint laterally and to stabilize the head of the humerus in the glenoid fossa. The infraspinatus muscle consists of four rotator cuff muscles, including the supraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor.
These muscles lift and rotate the arm and stabilize the shoulder with movement. The rotator cuff muscles are essential for overhead motions such as throwing a ball.
The rotator cuff muscles work together to help move and stabilize the shoulder. This allows us to have an extensive range of motion in the shoulder but also comes at the cost of stability.
Think about the hip joint – there are large boney structures of the femur and pelvis to help provide support and stability; however, we have less range of motion.
The shoulder’s stability needs to come from the muscles in the shoulder region. Requiring the forces to stabilize and move the shoulder can more easily result in overuse and injury.
The infraspinatus can be easily injured with repetitive overhead motions, such as those often seen in tennis or baseball. When the infraspinatus muscle is overworked, it can lead to:
To reduce your risk of injury, it’s essential to warm up properly before any physical activity and to use proper technique. You should also listen to your body and rest when feeling pain or fatigue.
If you find yourself sitting at a computer all day, you may be at risk of an imbalance in your rotator cuff’s muscles.
Stationary work can lead to “congestion” and tension within the infraspinatus muscle and can eventually create problems with the range of motion and function.
A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint, and the infraspinatus is one of those muscles.
When this muscle becomes imbalanced, it can pull on the other muscles in the rotator cuff, causing pain and stiffness. Common injuries can include:
Taking breaks often to move around and get some blood flowing to the area will also help. If you already have an imbalance in your rotator cuff muscles, there are treatment options available from your doctor or physical therapist.
Repetitive use and overuse can lead to postural changes that can cause pain in the infraspinatus muscle. Remember that posture is just a snapshot of your movement, not the problem, but a picture of the problem.
If you see your shoulders rolling forward or you feel like they are “up near your ears,” this may indicate a muscular imbalance in the rotator cuff muscles. Exercises can help to strengthen and stretch muscles to restore normal, pain-free movement.
There are several common symptoms of infraspinatus muscle pain, including:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you must see a doctor or physical therapist for an evaluation. They will be able to determine if infraspinatus muscle pain is the cause of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain.
Myofascial pain occurs when there is a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the soft tissues. As discussed above, this can occur either with repetitive movement or as chronic postural changes develop.
Lack of oxygen and blood flow leads to the development of myofascial trigger points that can be localized areas of pain. However, they can also refer pain to other locations, causing a more diffuse and achy pain along the back of the shoulder and the arm.
A healthy, well-balanced diet that limits inflammatory response provides a nutritional foundation for your body to heal injured tissue. Foods that are high in anti-inflammatory properties include:
Healthy, lean protein and whole grains round out a healthy diet that can help minimize pain from inflammation due to injury.
One of the best things you can do to alleviate infraspinatus muscle pain is focused on exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles. Activities focus on improving range of motion while also reducing pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy is an excellent way to start strengthening and stretching program. In addition, a physical therapist can develop a personalized program to address your infraspinatus muscle pain.
Massage therapy can help to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation. Myofascial release is a massage therapy that focuses on releasing tightness in the connective tissue and can be an effective treatment for infraspinatus muscle pain.
Massage therapy and myofascial release can be a part of a treatment plan with a specialized physical therapist or chiropractor who has additional training. However, it is most effective when coupled with a strengthening program.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body. Acupuncture can help to alleviate pain from infraspinatus muscle pain.
Trigger point injections involve injecting a small amount of anesthetic into the muscle at the site of pain. Trigger point injections are typically performed as an outpatient procedure in a pain management clinic. Make sure to seek a doctor specializing in pain management for trigger point injections.
Trigger point injections may be used as a treatment or as part of a more comprehensive management strategy combining physical therapy and massage therapy to relieve pain from infraspinatus muscle pain.
Over-the-counter pain medication can help temporarily alleviate the pain from infraspinatus muscle pain. In addition, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen effectively reduce pain and inflammation.
Always follow the recommended dosage on the bottle, and check with your doctor before taking any medication, especially if you have a medical condition.
Natural muscular pain remedies can also be effective.
Goal: The sleeper stretch aims to improve the shoulder range of motion and reduce pain. Improving the mobility through the back of the shoulder will help alleviate infraspinatus pain.
Goal: The goal of the strengthening internal rotation is to improve the shoulder range of motion and reduce pain in the affected arm.
You should feel your shoulder muscles working throughout this exercise.
Goal: The goal of the strengthening external rotation is to improve the shoulder range of motion and reduce pain in the affected arm.
Rest and repeat two more sets. You should feel your shoulder muscles working in the affected arm throughout this exercise.
Goal: This exercise will strengthen your core and rotator cuff muscles while improving your functional range of motion through the shoulder. Make sure to keep your core engaged throughout the movement.
Goal: The anterior push-up isolates the serratus anterior, a primary stabilizer of the shoulder, in a push-up position. Strengthening the serratus anterior will help take some of the load off the infraspinatus, allowing it to heal.
Strengthening other muscle groups within the rotator cuff and shoulder girdle can also be effective. Check out our exercises for rhomboids and serratus anterior muscles.
There are several ways that you can relieve infraspinatus pain.
If you have any questions, seek medical attention to evaluate your specific needs.
An infraspinatus tear can feel like a dull ache or a sharp pain in the back of the shoulder. You may also experience weakness in your arm and difficulty moving your arm away from your body. If you think you have torn your infraspinatus, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Infraspinatus pain is felt in the back of the shoulder in the muscle belly. However, it can also radiate down the arm and into the hand.
If you tear your infraspinatus, you may experience pain, weakness, and difficulty moving your arm. Therefore, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is essential to receiving the proper treatment.
If you are experiencing infraspinatus pain, there are several things that you can do to find relief. Exercises and stretches can help to strengthen the muscle and reduce pain. You may also want to try over-the-counter medication or massage therapy. You may need to seek medical attention for injections or surgery if the pain is severe. Torn infraspinatus muscles can be painful and cause difficulty moving the arm. If you think you have torn your infraspinatus muscle, seek medical attention right away.
*Note: This is not professional medical advice, and we recommend that you always consult with a doctor or medical professional if you are experiencing pain.
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