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A posterior rotator cuff activation exercise
A posterior rotator cuff activation exercise

Shoulder External Rotator Exercises (Activation)

Infraspinatus and teres minor (posterior rotator cuff) exercises for improving movement dysfunction, posture, shoulder pain, shoulder impingement, forward head, rotator cuff injury, and sports performance. Great infraspinatus and teres minor activations for the posterior rotator cuff.

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Course Description: Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Exercises (Activation)

This course describes infraspinatus and teres minor exercises, commonly referred to as shoulder external rotator activation. Performing external rotation, with the addition of flexion and adduction of the shoulder joint, may improve recruitment (isolation) of this important muscle. The infraspinatus and teres minor act as stabilizers and external rotators of the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint. It is common to include these exercises in a program designed to address shoulder dysfunction. Addressing these signs has been correlated with improving and reducing the risk of shoulder pain, rotator cuff injury, shoulder impingement syndrome, shoulder instability (hypermobility), thoracic kyphosis, scapular dyskinesis, lateral epicondylitis, and improving sports performance. Movement professionals (personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) should consider adding these exercises to their repertoire with the intent of improving patient/client outcomes from their integrated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions.

Isolated Muscle Activation Exercises:

Reactive Muscle Activation Exercises

Subsystem Integration Exercises

Last, it is important to integrate the increase in infraspinatus and teres minor activity into functional exercise. The Brookbush Institute accomplishes this with intrinsic stabilization subsystem and posterior oblique subsystem integration. Some example movements for these purposes include:

Pre-approved credits for:

Pre-approved for Continuing Education Credits for:

This Course Includes:

  • AI Tutor
  • Study Guide
  • Text and Illustrations
  • Research Review
  • Technique Videos
  • Sample Routine
  • Practice Exam
  • Pre-approved Final Exam
A posterior rotator cuff activation exercise
Caption: A posterior rotator cuff activation exercise

Course Study Guide: Shoulder External Rotator Exercises (Activation)

Introduction to Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Exercises
2 Sub Sections

Overactive Synergists

Best Practice (Optimizing Motion)

Research on Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Muscle Exercises

Best Exercises for Infraspinatus and Teres Minor Isolated Activation
3 Sub Sections

Integrated Stabilization
4 Sub Sections

Reactive Activation
3 Sub Sections

External Rotator Facilitation Taping:

Sample Corrective Exercise Program

Bibliography

  1. Ha, Sung-min., Kown, Oh-yum., Cynn, Heon-seock., Lee, Won-hwee., Park, Kyue-nam., Kim, Si-hyun., & Jun, Do-young. (2012) Comparison of electromyographic activity of the lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle in different arm-lifting scapular posterior tilt exercises. Physical Therapy in Sport, 13, 227-232
  2. Wong CK, Coleman D, diPersia V, Song J, Wright D. (2010). The effects of manual treatment on rounded-shoulder posture, and associated muscle strength. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. 14: 326-333
  3. Cools, A.M., Witvrouw, E.E., Declercq, G.A., Danneels, L.A., Cambier, D.C. (2003) Scapular muscle recruitment patterns: Trapezius muscle latency with and without impingement symptoms. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 31(4). 542-549
  4. Tsai NT, McClure PW, Karduna AR. (2003). Effects of muscle fatigue on 3-Dimensional scapular kinematics. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 84: 1000-1005
    • Altered Motion Scapula
  5. Ludewig P.M., Cook, T.M. (2000) Alterations in shoulder kinematics and associated muscle activity in people with symptoms of shoulder impingement. Physical Therapy. 80 (3) 276-291
  6. Lawrence, R. L., Braman, J. P., Laprade, R. F., & Ludewig, P. M. (2014). Comparison of 3-dimensional shoulder complex kinematics in individuals with and without shoulder pain, part 1: sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, and scapulothoracic joints. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 44(9), 636-A8
  7. Fayad F, Roby-Brami A, Yazbeck C, Hanneton S, Lefevre-Colau MM, Gautheron V, Poiraudeau S, Revel M. (2008). “Three-dimensional scapular kinematics and scapulohumeral rhythm in patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis or frozen shoulder.” 2008 Jbiomech, 41(2): 326-332
    • Regional Interdependence:
  8. Suzuki, H., Swanik, K. A., Huxel, K. C., Kelly, J. D., & Swanik, C. B. (2006). Alterations in upper extremity motion after scapular-muscle fatigue. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 15(1), 71
  9. Kwon JW, Son SM, Lee NK. (2015). Changes in upper-extremity muscle activities due to head position in subjects with a forward head posture and rounded shoulders. J Phys Ther Sci. 27: 1739-1742
  10. Helgadottir, H., Kristjansson, E., Einarsson, E., Karduna, A., & Jonsson, H. (2011). Altered activity of the serratus anterior during unilateral arm elevation in patients with cervical disorders. Journal of electromyography and kinesiology,21(6), 947-953
  11. Thigpen CA, Padua DA, Michener LA, Guskiewicz K, Giuliani C, Keener JD, Stergiou N. (2010). Head and shoulder posture affect scapular mechanics and muscle activity in overhead tasks. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 20: 701-709
  12. Otoshi, K., Takegami, M., Sekiguchi, M., Onishi, Y., Yamazaki, S., Otani, K., Shishido, H., Shinichi, K., Shinichi, K. (2014). Association between kyphosis and subacromial impingement syndrome: LOHAS study. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 23. e300-e307
  13. Scovazzo, M.L., Browne, A., Pink, M., Jobe, F.W., and Kerrigan, J. (1991). The painful shoulder during freestyle swimming: An electromyographic cinematographic analysis of twelve muscles. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 19(6). 577-582
  14. José Miota Ibarra, Hong-You Ge, Chao Wang, Vicente Martínez Vizcaíno, Thomas Graven-Nielsen, Lars Arendt-Nielsen. Latent Myofascial Trigger Points are Associated With an Increased Antagonistic Muscle Activity During Agonist Muscle Contraction. The Journal of Pain, Volume 12, Issue 12, December 2011, Pages 1282–1288
  15. Reinold MM, Wilk KE, Fleisig GS, Zheng N, Barrentine SW, Chmielewski T, Cody RC, Jameson GG, Andrews JR. Electromyographic Analysis of the Rotator Cuff and Deltoid Musculature During Common Shoulder External Rotation Exercises. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2004 Jul;34(7):385-94
  16. Ha, S., Kwon, O., Cynn, H., Lee, W., Kim, S., Park, K. (2013). Selective activation of the infraspinatus muscle. Journal of Athletic Training. 48(3). 346-352
  17. Daisuke Uga, Yasuhiro Endo, Rie Nakazawa, Masaaki Sakamoto. Electromyographic analysis of the infraspinatus and scapular stabilizing muscles during isometric shoulder external rotation at various shoulder elevation angles. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Jan; 28(1): 154–158
  18. Daisuke Uga, Rie Nakazawa, Masaaki Sakamoto. Strength and muscle activity of shoulder external rotation of subjects with and without scapular dyskinesis. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Apr; 28(4): 1100–1105.
  19. Kaya, E., Zinnuroglu, M., Tugeu, I. (2010) Kinesio taping compared to physical therapy modalities for the treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome. Clinical Rheumatology. (30) 201-207

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