What do the supraspinatus and infraspinatus do?
The supraspinatus muscle abducts the upper arm (test with the arm at the side to avoid overlap with deltoid muscle function). The infraspinatus muscle externally rotates the upper arm at the shoulder.
What does the supraspinatus muscle control?
Function. The supraspinatus muscle performs abduction of the arm, and pulls the head of the humerus medially towards the glenoid cavity. It independently prevents the head of the humerus to slip inferiorly.
What causes pain in the supraspinatus muscle?
Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common source of shoulder pain in athletes that participate in overhead sports (handball, volleyball, tennis, baseball). This tendinopathy is in most cases caused by an impingement of the supraspinatus tendon on the acromion as it passes between the acromion and the humeral head.
What does the infraspinatus muscle do?
The infraspinatus muscle’s action on the shoulder is primarily through its function as a rotator cuff muscle providing glenohumeral stability. The rotator cuff applies compression upon the head of the humerus that allows for the stabilization of the humeral head during shoulder abduction.
Where does supraspinatus hurt?
Supraspinatus pain is felt at the side of the shoulder in the middle section of the deltoid. In some cases, it can be felt further round the front of the shoulder.
Is the supraspinatus part of the rotator cuff?
The supraspinatus muscle is the only muscle of the rotator cuff that is not a rotator of the humerus. The infraspinatus is a powerful lateral rotator of the humerus. The tendon of this muscle is sometimes separated from the capsule of the glenohumeral joint by a bursa.
What action motion in the shoulder does the supraspinatus help create?
Supraspinatus is commonly thought to be instrumental in the initiation of shoulder abduction.
How long does it take for a supraspinatus tendon to heal?
It takes the repaired rotator cuff tendons about six weeks to heal initially to the bone, three months to form a relatively strong attachment to the bone, and about six to nine months before the tendon is completely healed to the bone.
How do you know if you tore your Infraspinatus?
Infraspinatus tendon tears frequently occur in overhead athletes, as a result of overuse injury, or in chronic shoulder instability. The main complaints are pain while sleeping, weakness in the affected arm, and inability to move the arm in certain motions.
What is Infraspinatus Tendinopathy?
Infraspinatus tendinopathy is a less severe injury to the infraspinatus. There are two types: Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. Tendinosis is small tears in the tendon that don’t cause much inflammation.