Teres Minor

The teres minor is a small but crucial muscle of the rotator cuff, located in the back of the shoulder. For athletes, especially those involved in overhead sports like baseball, tennis, swimming, and weightlifting, the teres minor plays a vital role in preventing shoulder injuries, enhancing throwing mechanics, and improving upper body strength and endurance.

Weakness or dysfunction in this muscle can lead to shoulder instability, impingement, or even rotator cuff tears, affecting overall performance and increasing the risk of chronic pain. Therefore, strengthening and maintaining flexibility in the teres minor is essential for optimal athletic performance and injury prevention.

Tennis
Teres Minor

Teres Minor

Anatomy

[Origin]

  • Middle part of lateral border of scapula

[Insertion]

  • Inferior facet of greater tubercle of humerus

[Action]

  • Laterally rotates arm; and acts with rotator cuff muscles

Clinical Relevance

Function in Shoulder Stability

In concert with the other rotator cuff muscles, Teres Minor is instrumental in providing stability to the shoulder joint, and helps to hold the humeral head in the glenoid cavity of the scapula

~ Evidence-Based Exercises ~

According to an EMG study, the exercises that demonstrated significant muscle contractions of Teres Minor are;

  • Shoulder Horizontal Abduction with ER
  • Shoulder ER Exercise
  • Reverse Dumbbell Fly

 

Shoulder Horizontal Abduction with ER

Shoulder Horizontal Abduction

Shoulder ER

Shoulder External Rotation

Reverse Dumbbell Fly

Reverse Dumbbell Fly

< Reference >

  • Keith L. Moore, Anne M. R. Agur, Arthur F. Dalley. Moore Clinically Oriented Anatomy 7th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013
  • Juneja P, Hubbard JB. Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, arm Teres minor muscle. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
  • Tsuruike M, Ellenbecker TS. A comparison of teres minor and infraspinatus muscle activation in the prone position. JSES International. 2022;6(1):116-122. doi:1016/j.jseint.2021.09.005
  • Kumar M, Srivastava S, Das VS. Electromyographic analysis of selected shoulder muscles during rehabilitation exercises. BMR. 2018;31(5):947-954. doi:3233/BMR-171020