Teres Minor Muscle: 1 of 4 rotator cuff muscles

TODAY  we're discussing TERES MINOR: the T in the rotator cuff acronym:  "SITS" 

This lil' guy pretty much lives on the back of your arm pit, but let's be a little more accurate:

Official attachment points:  starts at the superior (upper) 2/3 of the lateral (outside) of the scapula (shoulder blade) > crosses the shoulder joint and inserts onto the INFERIOR FACET of the greater tubercle of the humerus.

Remember Supraspinatus? *You will soon see that all 3 out of 4 rotator cuff muscles’ attachment points INSERT at the same area; the greater tubercle of the humerus except just different FACETS (superior, middle,  & lesser)

 And the greater tubercle of the humerus is a bony bump on top of our shoulder.

See attached photo for more details!

So what action does this muscle do?

TERES MINOR MUSCLE ACTION:

Teres Minor helps Infraspinatus (last week) to LATERALLY ROTATE your arm at the shoulder joint! Aka "external rotation". Here is a video showing two ways you can do external rotation at the shoulder joint.  https://vine.co/v/hYUMiOMO27B

*because our shoulders are often rounded forward in poor posture - our arms internally rotate (the opposite of external rotation!) Can you see how this would cause Teres Minor (and infraspinatus!) to be WEAK and overstretched?

To STRENGTHEN simply add a weight in your hand whilst doing the action!  No need to go out and buy a handweight, any ol' can in the cupboard will do! For strengthening move slowly to avoid injury. Try 10 reps for 3 sets or until you feel you've 'exhausted the muscle' REMEMBER: PAIN = BAD - SHAKING IS OKAY!