But for such a small, seemingly insignificant muscle, it can sure cause some problems. To perform the stretch, place your left shoulder against the opening of a doorway with your left elbow bent and left hand pressing into the wall. T1 comparison of three stretches for the pectoralis minor muscle. Pectoralis minor the deeper smaller chest muscle can cause pain in the front of the shoulder and down the arm when the myofascial trigger points are activated. The pectoralis major from latin pectus, meaning breast is a thick, fanshaped muscle, situated at the chest of the human body. It is important to do stretches and strengthening for the pectoralis minor and other chest muscles to promote a healthy, upright posture and a full range of motion. The most superficial is the pectoralis major, under which is located the pectoralis minor. The pecs the common nickname for the pectoralis major, and sometimes includes pectoralis minor are thick, fanshaped muscles located in the chest. To stretch pec minor i like to reach the arms out to the sides, spread the shoulder blades and then externall rotate the forearms and upper arms while at the same time moving the top of the shoulders back. Slowly lean forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders.
Comparison of three stretches for the pectoralis minor muscle. The best isolated stretch for pectoralis minor youtube. Pectoralis minor definition of pectoralis minor by medical. Although it does not move the arm directly, as does the pectoralis major, the pectoralis minor can have an impact on arm and shoulder. This is a good exercise for some with adhesive capsulitis but i tend to avoid it in most patients that need pec minor stretching only. Lengthening of the pectoralis minor muscle during passive shoulder motions and stretching techniques. Ntos or neurogenic pectoralis minor syndrome npmsis based on old fashioned history and physical examination. If the stretch is too intense, place additional blocks, bolsters or pillows so that your hands and arms can rest a bit higher from the ground. Modify this common stretch for the chest to target the pectoralis minor specifically. Have a partner gently press on the forearm of the hanging arm until you feel slight pressure at the front of the chest and shoulder.
May 11, 2020 the pectoralis minor muscle is one of the most superficial muscles on the anterior aspect of the chest or thoracic wall. The subpectoralis minor space is located just below the coracoid process and under the pectoralis minor muscle insertion to this process see fig. Place palms against wall while retracting the shoulder blades and pulling them down. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intrarater reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the pectoralis minor length test. As with all stretches you only want to take a stretch until you feel a slight pull but no pain or tenderness. Save these chestspecific moves for the end of your workout or after a hot shower. Oct 15, 2018 pectoralis minor origin and insertion. The purpose of this paper is to report the clinical signs, symptoms, crosssectional imaging findings, and management of an isolated pectoralis minor tendon tear. This stretches pectoralis minor and should be a much shorter and sharper stretch from the shoulder to the rib cage. Understand your pectoralis minor for deeper backbends yoga. These positions will stretch get all the fiber directions of the large pectoralis major muscle. Muraki t1, aoki m, izumi t, fujii m, hidaka e, miyamoto s. You can also try the same thing with the arms angled downwards at about 45 degrees and slightly back.
Stretching exercises for the pectoralis healthy living. Find out why, as well as other interesting facts about the pectoralis minor muscle, by checking out this lesson. The pectoralis majors primary functions are flexion, adduction. Along with the pectoralis minor, the pectoralis major forms the anterior wall of the axilla. A final example of a way in which the pectoralis major can be exercised is push ups. Pdf purpose the purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of pectoralis minor stretching and shoulder strengthening with an elastic band on.
Tests, such as scalene muscle and pectoralis minor muscle blocks are employed to con. The pectoralis minor runs from the 3rd to the 5th ribs over the thorax and ends at coracoid process. Oct 22, 2014 to increase the intensity of the stretch, lean the chest further forward. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles and lies under the breast. The corner or doorway stretch passive horizontal abduction with the shoulder at 90 of abduction and external rotation is one of the most frequently used exercises. Use an elastic stretch band of comfortable resistance. To increase the intensity of the stretch, lean the chest further forward. As myotherapists we see a lot of tight pec minors, in fact just about everyone that. Stand in a doorway or corner with both arms on the wall slightly above your head. How to isolate and then stretch the pec minor muscle, secondary inhalation muscle, and very important to living and physical exercise, especially handstands and yoga. The pectoralis minor lies underneath the pectoralis major, a thick, broad muscle that covers the upper chest. A shortened pectoralis minor muscle is commonly identified as part of this imbalance. How to assess and stretch the pec minor ptprogress. Isolated traumatic pectoralis minor tendon tear in a young.
It arises from the upper margins and outer surfaces of the third, fourth, and fifth ribs, near their cartilages and from the. Your pectoralis minor is a triangular tendon located on the upper part of your chest. It consists of a clavicular part and a sternal part, both converging to a flat tendon that inserts on the humerus. The base arises from the third, fourth, and fifth ribs on their upper outer surfaces. It aids in drawing the shoulder forward and downward in opposition to the trapezius muscle. Pectoralis minor muscle an overview sciencedirect topics.
Beneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle. It functions to rotate the scapula, to draw it down and forward, and to raise the third, the. Thick and fanshaped, it arises from the clavicle, the sternum, the cartilages of the second to the sixth ribs, and the aponeurosis of the obliquus externus abdominis. Lengthening of the pectoralis minor muscle during passive. The pectoral stretch is designed to improve the flexibility of the pectoral muscles figure 1. Stretches for pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the mean length. Jun 22, 2017 how to isolate and then stretch the pec minor muscle, secondary inhalation muscle, and very important to living and physical exercise, especially handstands and yoga. Pectoralis major is a thick, fanshaped muscle contributing to the thoracobrachial motion. The pectoralis minor originates on the outer surfaces of ribs 3, 4, and 5 and from the fascia of the intercostal muscles.
The effects of shoulder stabilization exercises and pectoralis minor. The lower angle stretch will affect pectoralis minor, subscapularis, and serratus anterior better than the other angles. This is the smaller of the two pectoral muscles, or muscles of the chest. Customers who combine home exercises with treatment get better results. Pectoralis strain rehabilitation exercises jaspal ricky singh md. The pectoralis major flexes the humerus, the bone of the upper arm, picking up a baby, it draws the humerus away from the body bringing the arms up overhead in yoga, and across the body hugging yourself, in a somewhat similar way.
Get moving take regular breaks from sitting to do some simple stretches that will loosen a tight pectoralis minor. Unless youre working with a professional therapist who can assist you with mechanical stretching, any stretches you perform on your chest and shoulders are typically done manually. While the doorway stretch may have been superior, it has hard to coach and even more difficult to monitor when the person goes home and starts torquing on their shoulder. Several stretches for the pectoralis minor are used clinically, although it is not known which stretch optimally lengthens the muscle. This shoulder position is in accordance with other investigators who suggest that applying a stretch to the pectoralis minor would require movement of the muscles insertion in a posterior direction in conjunction with scapular retraction that is performed at or above 30 of flexion or elevation in the scapular plane scaption, thereby. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The muscle inserts on the coracoid process of the scapula. As the exercise becomes easier to perform, progress to 3 sets of 12 repetitions.
Cue by pulling the shoulder blades together and towards your buttocks. Discussion of additional structures that may limit. Stretching for pain relief pectoralis major and minor. Ed, phd, fawm mike benson has sent several fitness fixer inspiring stories.
Pectoral chest stretch the most common mistake in the best shoulder stretch written by jolie bookspan, m. Underneath the pectoralis major is the pectoralis minor, a thin, triangular muscle not seen in diagram. It arises from the upper margins and outer surfaces of the third. Open your arms to the sides of the room and let them hang so you feel a stretch in your chest muscles. This is true for the chest muscles, including the pectoralis minor, which attaches to the front of your shoulder and to your larger chest muscle, the pectoralis major. A manual stretch lasts much shorter than a mechanical stretch. Apr 05, 2017 modify this common stretch for the chest to target the pectoralis minor specifically.
Push ups involve lying prone to the ground with hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the acute effects of two passive stretch maneuvers aimed at lengthening the pectoralis minor and the subsequent effects on scapular kinematics among a group of collegiate swimmers. Effect of two passive stretch manoeuvres for 4 weeks on pectoralis. Structural kinesiology chapter 4 flashcards quizlet.
To begin with, the stretch should be held for 15 seconds and repeated 4 times at a mild to moderate stretch pain free. Lower chest and pectoralis minor become more stretched with elbow higher. Stay here for several moments, breathing deeply, allowing the pectoralis minor to relax. The pectoralis minor muscle is one of the most superficial muscles on the anterior aspect of the chest or thoracic wall.
Turn your breastbone away from the wall and toward the center of the room to feel a stretch deep in the chest. This muscle is completely covered by the pectoralis major muscle. Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscle flap for postpneumonectomy empyema article pdf available in surgery today 403. Clinical tests have been recommended to test for shortening of this muscle. It inserts as a flat tendon into the coracoid process of the scapula. When tight this muscle can also compromise the bundle of nerves that run down the arm and tip the shoulder blade forward giving you a rounded shoulders look and winging the lower tip. As with all stretches you only want to take a stretch until you feel a. The lower angle stretch will affect pectoralis minor, subscapularis, and. Stretching exercises, such as the doorway chest stretch, help open up the pectoralis minor. The sub pectoralis minor space is located just below the coracoid process and under the pectoralis minor muscle insertion to this process see fig. Other articles where pectoralis minor is discussed. Allow one arm to hang off the side with your shoulder positioned at the edge. Lengthening of the pectoralis minor muscle pmi during passive shoulder motions and the effect of stretching techniques for this muscle are unclear. Option 2 standing within a door frame, perform the stretches as above upon both pectoralis major at the same time by placing the arms upon each side of the door frame at the same time and using the three steps as detailed above.
The pectoralis minor lies, for the most part, beneath the pectoralis major, arising from the middle ribs and inserting into attaching to the scapula shoulder blade. I think we can do better using manual stretching in addition to the postural exercises i recommend above for at home. N2 pectoralis minor adaptive shortening in healthy individuals is associated with altered scapular kinematics similar to the alterations demonstrated in individuals with subacromial impingement. The pectoralis major can develop multiple trigger points. Your two pectoralis muscles the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor line the front of your armpits. Comparison of three stretches for the pectoralis minor. Pectoralis minor questions and study guide quizlet. Pectoralis minor definition of pectoralis minor by the free. To isolate the pectoralis minor from the pectoralis major in a stretch, stand near a. You should discuss the suitability of this exercise with your physiotherapist prior to commencing it.
Apr 01, 2009 lengthening of the pectoralis minor muscle pmi during passive shoulder motions and the effect of stretching techniques for this muscle are unclear. Bend the elbow to 90 degrees so that the hand is facing the direction of your head. The pectoralis major attaches your breastbone and collar bone to your humerus, the long bone in your upper arm. A warm muscle stretches more effectively and is at less. Raise the body up by extending arms, keeping the upper and lower body straight.
An important step in developing the pectoralis minor is increasing flexibility in this short muscle. This is a rare case of an isolated pectoralis minor partialthickness tendon tear in a 24yearold man who was involved in a major trauma. The pectoralis minor is the little brother muscle of the chest. You might have adjust a bit by bending the elbow or moving the arm but you want to make sure to get the stretch where you want it in pectoralis minor at the upper corner of the chest. Standing with your right side close to a wall, extend your right arm up and out behind your body, with your palm on the wall at a 45degree angle. Pectoralis major definition of pectoralis major by medical. Infraspinatus, teres minor, posterior deltoid you should feel this stretch in the back of your shoulder and upper back equipment needed. Its innervated by both medial and lateral pectoral nerves. Pectoralis minor is the smaller sibling of the larger and more talked about pectoralis pec major. The pectoralis minor is a thin, flat muscle found immediately underneath the pectoralis major. Pectoralis strain rehabilitation exercises you may do all of these exercises right away. Remaining in a straight position, lower the body down until just above the ground. Pdf pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscle flap for.