The Teres Minor is a small muscle located in your shoulder. It’s part of a group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff, which is crucial for stabilizing and allowing movements of the shoulder joint. The Teres Minor specifically helps with the rotation and positioning of the arm. When you rotate your arm away from your body or lift it sideways, the Teres Minor is at work.
This muscle starts from the outer edge of your shoulder blade and extends to the upper part of your arm bone. Its main jobs include helping to rotate your arm outward (external rotation) and stabilizing the shoulder joint when the arm is moving, which prevents dislocation or other injuries. It works closely with the other muscles in the rotator cuff to keep the shoulder functioning smoothly and to support a wide range of arm movements.
Keeping the Teres Minor healthy is important for anyone involved in activities that require repetitive arm movements or overhead activities, such as swimming, tennis, or baseball pitching. It’s also vital in daily activities that involve reaching or lifting.
Strengthening the Teres Minor, along with other rotator cuff muscles, involves exercises that target shoulder stabilization and rotation. These exercises can help improve shoulder strength and flexibility, reduce the risk of injuries, and maintain healthy shoulder function. For those aiming to enhance their shoulder health or recover from injury, specific exercises designed to target this muscle and its surrounding structures can be very beneficial. Regularly incorporating such exercises into a fitness routine can aid in achieving better overall shoulder strength and mobility, contributing to smoother and more efficient movements.