What action motion in the shoulder does the infraspinatus create?
Action. Infraspinatus is the main external rotator of the shoulder joint. It assists in producing shoulder extension. With the arm fixed, it abducts the inferior angle of the scapula.
What does the infraspinatus 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.
What movement does the supraspinatus perform?
The supraspinatus muscle functions to initiate abduction and depress the humeral head against the upward pull of the deltoid. The muscle and tendon travel slightly obliquely from posterior to anterior, allowing it to contribute to external rotation as well.
What exercise works the infraspinatus?
The side-lying wiper exercise is a novel and effective exercise for selectively activating the infraspinatus muscle while minimizing the use of the posterior deltoid and middle trapezius muscles.

Which muscle is known as forgotten muscle?
While there’s a lot of focus and attention placed on strengthening the rotator cuff to maintain healthy shoulders, there is a muscle that is often forgotten on the path to healthy shoulders. That forgotten muscle is the serratus anterior.
How do I strengthen my infraspinatus?
Previous studies have reported that prone external rotation with horizontal abduction (PER), side-lying wiper exercise (SWE), and standing external rotation (STER) were effective exercises for strengthening the infraspinatus.
Does supraspinatus initiate shoulder abduction?
Conclusions: Supraspinatus is recruited prior to movement of the humerus into abduction but not earlier than many other shoulder muscles, including infraspinatus, deltoid and axioscapular muscles. The common statement that supraspinatus initiates abduction is therefore, misleading.
How do you isolate an infraspinatus?
shoulder external rotation to strengthen the infraspinatus muscle isolately2, 11. Adducted shoulder position isolates the infraspinatus from the posterior deltoid, and side-lying external rotation exercise may be the most effective ma- neuver to increase infraspinatus activity in isolation5,6.
What is the antagonist muscle to the infraspinatus?
The infraspinatus: agonistic: anterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, lower trapezius, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, teres minor. antagonistic: middle deltoid, middle trapezius, posterior deltoid.
What kind of muscle is the infraspinatus?
triangular muscle
Infraspinatus is a thick triangular muscle that occupies the majority of the dorsal surface of the scapula….Infraspinatus muscle.
Origin | Infraspinous fossa of scapula |
---|---|
Action | Shoulder joint: Arm external rotation; Stabilizes humeral head in glenoid cavity |
Innervation | Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6) |
What is the origin of the infraspinatus?
Infraspinatus muscle
Origin | Infraspinous fossa of scapula |
---|---|
Insertion | Greater tubercle of humerus |
Action | Shoulder joint: Arm external rotation; Stabilizes humeral head in glenoid cavity |
Innervation | Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6) |
Blood supply | Suprascapular artery, circumflex scapular arteries |
How do you hit infraspinatus?
The best way to treat this muscle is by placing the hand of the painful shoulder onto the opposite shoulder, in the front. So if you have pain in your right shoulder, then place your right hand on your left shoulder, with your right elbow in front of your chest, and your right elbow bent.
What exercise works infraspinatus?
The 6 Best Infraspinatus Exercises
- Pendulum.
- Sleeper Stretch.
- Passive External Rotation.
- Side Lying Wiper.
- Prone Horizontal Abduction with External Rotation.
- Standing External Cable Rotation.
Where does the infraspinatus insert?
Greater tubercle of humerus
Infraspinatus muscle
Origin | Infraspinous fossa of scapula |
---|---|
Insertion | Greater tubercle of humerus |
Action | Shoulder joint: Arm external rotation; Stabilizes humeral head in glenoid cavity |
Innervation | Suprascapular nerve (C5, C6) |
Blood supply | Suprascapular artery, circumflex scapular arteries |
How do you activate infraspinatus?
What exercises work the infraspinatus?
What type of rotation does infraspinatus create on the humerus?
As a part of the rotator cuff muscles, the main function of infraspinatus muscle is external rotation of the humerus, as well as stabilization of the glenohumeral, or shoulder joint….Infraspinatus muscle.
Origin | Infraspinous fossa of scapula |
---|---|
Insertion | Greater tubercle of humerus |
Does infraspinatus laterally rotate the arm?
The suprascapular nerve innervates the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. These muscles function to abduct and laterally rotate the arm, respectively.