Shoulder Muscles And Massage Therapy

There are 4 shoulder muscles, in addition to the SITS group or rotator cuff group that you should be familiar with.

They are Coracobrachialis, Pectoralis Major, Teres Major, and Deltoid.

Below is the muscles study aid for massage therapy students.

Coracobrachialis

Insertion is medial humeral shaft.

Actions--adducts shoulder and flexes shoulder.

Pectoralis Major

Insertion is intertubercular groove of humerus.

Actions--extends shoulder, medially rotates shoulder, flexes shoulder, and adducts shoulder.

This is also known as pecs. If tightness occurs, it can cause chest constriction and pains similar to angina. It can also cause rounded shoulders.

Teres Major

Insertion is intertubercular groove of humerus.

Actions--adducts shoulder, extends shoulder, medially rotates shoulder.

Deltoid

Origins are scapular spine, acromion process, and lateral 1/3 of clavicle.

Insertion is deltoid tuberosity.

Actions--laterally rotates shoulder, medially rotates shoulder, abducts shoulder, flexes shoulder, extends shoulder.

The anterior, middle, and posterior fibers of Deltoid function as 3 different muscles. It can be an antagonist to itself and is the most important of the shoulder abductors.

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