Supraspinatus muscle

Authors
Affiliations

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Left Humerus (Anterior view)
Figure 2: Muscles that move the humerus
Reading list
  • Supraspinatus Muscle
  • MMT

Overview

The supraspinatus runs from its origin on the supraspinatus fossa through the supraspinatus canal and to its insertion on the humeral head. The supraspinatus canal is bordered anteriorly by the coracoid process, posteriorly by the acromion, and superiorly by the coracoacromial ligament.

Origin

Supraspinous Fossa of scapula

Figure 3: Left scapula (Posterior view)

Insertion

Greater tubercle of Humerus

Innervation

Suprascapular n. (C4, C5, C6)

Action

  • GHJ: Initiates abduction
  • Stabilizes GHJ

The supraspinatus is one of the key muscles in the force-couple of the shoulder abductors.

Tendon

Chronic inflammation in the shoulder can result in supraspinatus tendon thickening, which results in poor sliding through the canal.

In cases of tendon dysfunction, surgical repair is difficult due to the narrowness supraspinatus canal. As a result, an inferior acromioplasty (resection of the lower 1/2 of the acromion and coracoacromial ligament) is employed instead.

Palpation

Tests

  • Champagne toast
  • ERLS (Possibly)
  • Empty can / Jobe test can be used to determine if there is suprascapular nerve neuropathy or supraspinatus problems

“Supraspinatus Tests Two techniques described in the literature can be used to test the supraspinatus muscle, the empty-can position—the elbow extended, the shoulder in full IR, and the arm in the scapular plane (thumbs-down position) (Fig. 16-29) (Table 16-25), and the prone position, in the full-can position—the elbow extended and the shoulder abducted to 100 degrees and externally rotated while the patient lifts the arm into abduction (thumbs-up position) (Fig. 16-30) (Table 16-25). Park and colleagues,126 investigated 215 patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tears confirmed by arthroscopy and found the Jobe test to have a sensitivity of 52.6% and specificity of 82.4%. For partial-thickness tears, the same study showed the Jobe test to have a 32.1% sensitivity and 67.8% specificity.126”

Dysfunction

  • Supraspinatus tear
  • Supraspinatus tendonitis
  • Supraspinatus tendinopathy
  • supraspinatus paratenonitis

Rupture

If there is a supraspinatus rupture, the shoulder will not be able to go beyond the horizontal plane (90° abduction or flexion).

You will also see the humeral head resting against the coraco-acromial arch, resulting in impingement and pain.

References

1.
Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/
2.
Betts JG, Blaker W. Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed. OpenStax; 2022. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/?Book%20details
3.
Donnelly JM, Simons DG, eds. Travell, Simons & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Third edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2019.
4.
Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.
5.
Weinstock D. NeuroKinetic Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Manual Muscle Testing. North Atlantic Books; 2010.
6.
Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.
7.
Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.
8.
Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.

Citation

For attribution, please cite this work as: