The latissimus dorsi muscle can contribute to pain in the shoulder, upper back, and arm going down into the hand. The muscle can also cause pain in the side of the ribcage and lower abdomen. It is the muscle that most often causes the ‘side stitch’.
The levator scapulae connect the shoulder blade to the vertebra of the neck. The muscle contributes to pain in the shoulder, neck, and the base of the skull. The muscle causes a stiff neck. It can contribute to headaches at the base of the skull and up into the back of the head.
The subclavius muscle is found just under the collarbone. It contributes to pain in the area around the clavicle (collarbone), shoulder, upper arm, forearm, thumb and fingers. It can also contribute to tingling and numbness in the arm and hand.
The pectoralis minor muscle contributes to pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. Chest pain can be tenderness or sharp, burning stabbing pain. The pec minor can also contribute to pain in the upper back between the shoulder blades.
The pectoralis major contributes to pain in the chest, shoulder, breast and upper back. Pain can also travel down the inner arm, elbow and extend to the hand and last two fingers.
The deltoid is the muscle that covers the tip of the shoulder. It contributes to pain in the shoulder and upper arm. One indication of problems with the deltoid muscle is pain is most intense during activity and subsides when resting the shoulder and arm.
The teres major is a shoulder muscle. It can contribute to pain in the shoulder, upper arm, and forearm. An indication of teres major muscle involvement is pain is felt in the shoulder and upper arm skipping the elbow and reoccurring in the back of the forearm.
The infraspinatus muscle lines the back of the shoulder blade. It is one of the muscles that can contribute to frozen shoulder. The muscle can cause pain in the shoulder, neck, pain down the outside of the arm which descends down into the thumb and hand. Shoulder mobility can be greatly reduced.
The supraspinatus muscle is one of the four rotator cuff muscles. It contributes to pain in the shoulder, outside of the arm and elbow. Pain is a deep aching that often persists during rest.
The subscapularis muscle is found on the inside of the shoulder blade. It can cause severe pain in the shoulder blade area that can also run down the back of the arm. Pain is also often felt in the wrist, but not the forearm.
The serratus anterior muscle contributes to pain down the side of the ribs, around the shoulder blade, chest, arm, hand, and fingers.
The serratus posterior inferior muscle contributes to pain in the lower back between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the hip. Pain is increased when you twist the torso, bend over, and stretch to reach overhead.
The trapezius muscle is located in the upper back. It can contribute to headaches and pain in the eye, jaw, neck, top of the shoulder and upper back. It can also contribute to tingling in the arm.
The rhomboids consist of two muscles, the rhomboid major and the rhomboid minor. They are located in the upper back and contribute to pain around the inner edge of the shoulder blade.
The serratus posterior superior muscle is a muscle found in the upper back. It contributes to pain in the shoulder, shoulder blade region, arm, hand and little finger. It can also contribute to pain in the upper chest.
The intercostal muscles are found between the ribs. The muscles can contribute to pain in and around the rib cage. They are also a major contributor to pain in the sides and in between the ribs known as a side stitch.
The diaphragm is a muscle found under the lower ribs. It can contribute to breathing problems, pain in the chest, ribs, and can cause sharp pain in the side known as side stitches.
The teres minor connects the shoulder blade to the upper arm and is one of the rotator cuff muscles.
