Functional Rehab Academy
Supraspinatus
Muscle origin
Supraspinous fossa and spine of scapula
Muscle insertion
Greater tubercle of humerus
Muscle function
Stability of Glenohumeral joint (part of the rotatorcuff) and shoulder abduction.
Nerve innervation
C5-6 (Lovett reactor T12-L1)
Primary muscle type
Tonic / Type I (60-70%)
Myofascial lines:
Primary inhibatory muscles:
Related joints
- Shoulder joint
Fossa part
Client is supine with the elbow straight, thumb facing upwards and arm placed in 45 deg. shoulder abduction. Apply pressure around the wrist towards shoulder adduction.
Spina Scapula part
Client is supine with the elbow straight, back of the hand facing upwards and arm placed in 45 deg. shoulder abduction. Apply pressure around the wrist towards shoulder adduction.
Functional anatomy for
Supraspinatus
Organ relationship (T4-9, n. Vagus)
- Esophagus (AK)
- Symp – T4-T9 (Esophageal plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
Associated muscles
- Levator scapula – Deep back arm line
- Trapezius upper – Elevation of arm in frontal plane
- Rhomboid – Deep back arm line
- Deltoid – Shoulder abduction
- Infraspinatus – Deep back arm line and rotatorcuff
- Subscapularis – Deep back arm line and rotatorcuff
- Teres major – Shoulder joint stability
- Teres minor – Deep back arm line and rotatorcuff
- Serratus anterior – Upward rotation of scapula to deload in armraise
- Triceps brachii – Deep back arm line and vertical push pattern