At the Pain Relief Massage Clinic here on the Gold Coast, sometimes we need to treat this small muscle called pectoralis minor. Clients with pectoralis minor problem tend to show the symptom of pain in front of the shoulder. If this muscle is shortened, tightened and contracted, it can also cause neurovascular symptoms by entrapment of the neurovascular bundle to the arm.

As this muscle is relatively small and located underneath the thick pectoralis major muscle, it’s often hard to find and treat it. It is easy to find and treat it if the client is very skinny. But if the client’s pectoralis major is very thick and tight, or if the client’s muscles are covered by thick fat layer, it is almost impossible to locate this small muscle. We just have to do our best.

We would like people to know that even what we call Deep tissue massage is unable to access and treat deep tissue if muscles are covered and protected by thick different type of tissue.

The pectoralis minor is found underneath the larger pectoralis major. The muscle has a flat shape and is quite thin, particularly when compared to the other pectoral muscle and is one of the smallest muscles in the chest.

The muscle is connected to the third, fourth and fifth ribs, where it also originates, and stretches to the hook-like coracoid process of the scapula, also known as the shoulder blade. The muscle is identical on both sides of the ribcage and in both cases the origins of the pectoralis minor are the lateral costal cartilages.

The pectoralis minor has the function of pulling the scapula (shoulder blade) forward, downward and inward. Stabilizing the scapula can be achieved by depression of the shoulder by this small muscle. This muscle also works as an accessory respiratory muscle during forced inspiration. During strong inhalation by upper chest, the pectoralis minor is activated.

The muscle’s actions can be quite varied, depending on the situation and how other elements and muscles in the body are functioning. For example, when contracted, the pectoralis minor muscle can pull the shoulder blade down and forward on the ribcage. In case the shoulder is held rigid by other muscles groups (like the levator scapula or trapezius muscle for example) contracting the pectoralis minor muscle will lead to an elevation of the ribcage.

Tension in this complex muscle can have a series of complications and consequences. For example, the winging of the scapula can occur when there is chronic tension in the pectoralis muscle. The winging of the scapula means that the medial border and inferior angle of the scapula are lifted away from the ribs and it is easily visible on the outer shape of the body.

Another repercussion of pectoralis minor pressure can be neurogenic pain and even numbness in the hand, fingers and forearm. This happens when the tension in the muscle compresses the nerves of the brachial plexus which are found in the general shoulder area. Tension in this muscle can also affect the blood flow to the forearm. This happens due to the compression of the axillary artery. Trigger points in the pectoralis minor muscle can also lead to thoracic outlet syndrome.

When it comes to trigger points in the pectoralis minor muscle, there is just one major one, however, if activity is intense in said trigger point, a second one can appear in the area where the muscle attaches to the coracoid process. The second trigger point can easily be resolved once the first trigger point is treated and no longer produces discomfort.

Pain in the pectoralis minor muscle is generally felt in the anterior shoulder part and in some rarer occasions it can be felt across the chest. It is also quite often that pectoralis minor muscle pain can radiate to the upper part of the arm, the elbow, the forearm, the palm as well as the pinkie, ring and middle fingers.

The way the pain radiates from the pectoralis minor muscle is similar to the way trigger points cause pain in the clavicular division of the pectoralis major.

Regarding the symptoms of a trigger point in the pectoralis minor muscle, the following may be the most frequent:

Pain felt in the shoulder region which often radiates to the chest while also radiating down the arm towards the pinkie, ring and middle fingers. Pain felt in the muscle, which can also often be confused with heart pain due to its proximity.

Another symptom for trigger points in the pectoralis minor is pain on the inside of the elbow that is similar to golfer’s elbow. The hurt arm can also make it hard to reach forward and upward, as well as give out a weak pulse at the wrist.

If you would like us to have a look and treat your pectoralis minor muscle with deep tissue massage, sports massage or remedial massage on the Gold Coast, click and visit www.remedialmassage-goldcoast.com.au.

Pain Relief Massage Clinic
192 Brisbane Road, Arundel Gold Coast QLD 4214 Australia
Phone: (07) 5537 7886