The scalene muscles consist of three muscles, the scalenus anterior, scalenus, medius, and scalenus posterior. These muscles are prime contributors of thoracic outlet syndrome, and contributes to pain in the upper back, shoulder, chest, arm and hand.
The latissimus dorsi is a large flat muscle that covers the mid to lower back. It 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. The lats can also affect breathing.
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 can contribute to pain down the side of the ribs, around the shoulder blade, and may chest, arm, hand and fingers. It also contributes to pain in the back around the shoulder blade and down the side of the ribs.
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 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 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 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 serratus posterior superior muscle is a muscle found in the upper back. It contributes to pain in shoulder, shoulder blade region, arm, hand and little finger. It can also contribute to pain in the upper chest.
The brachialis muscle connects the upper arm to the lower arm. It contributes to pain in the upper arm, elbow, thumb pad and thumb. It can also cause tingling and / or numbness in the back of the forearm into the thumb. Bending and straightening the elbow is painful.
The biceps brachii muscle is found in the front of the upper arm. It contributes to pain in the shoulder, upper arm and elbow. Straightening the arm when the palm is facing up can be painful and difficult.
The coracobrachialis muscle connects the shoulder to the upper arm. It can contribute to pain in the shoulder, back of the arm, and occasionally the middle finger. Pain is often felt when attempting to put your hand behind your back and or raising your arm over your head.
The triceps brachii muscle is found in the back of the upper arm. It can contribute to dull aching pain in the shoulder upper arm, elbow, forearm which occasionally extends into the fingers. The elbow can be hypersensitive and difficult to bend and straighten.
The brachioradialis is located on the outside of the arm and is a contributor to tennis elbow. It can cause pain on the outside of the elbow, forearm and often descends down into the wrist and thumb. It can contribute to numbness around the thumb as well as a weakened grip.
The anconeus muscle is located in the forearm contributes to pain in the elbow. Pain is most pronounced when straightening the elbow. It is a prime contributor to tennis elbow and affects golfer’s non-dominant elbow.
The extensor carpi radialis longus contributes to pain in the elbow, forearm, back of the hand and first finger. It contributes to tennis elbow and can cause a weak unreliable grip.
The extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle is located in the back of the forearm on the side of the thumb. It contributes to a burning pain in the back of the hand that sometimes extends up to the forearm. Twisting the wrist can cause excruciating pain. It also can cause a weakened unreliable grip.
The extensor carpi ulnaris is found in the back of the forearm toward the side of the little finger. It can contribute to wrist pain. The pain feels like a severe sprain. Twisting the wrist can cause sharp pain. The muscle is also a prime contributor to writers cramp.
The pronator teres muscle is located in the front of the forearm. It can contribute to pain in the wrist near the thumb. Pain is often felt in the thumb pad and can extend up into the forearm. Cupping the hand can become almost impossible because of intense pain in the wrist and or thumb pad.
The flexor pollicis longus muscle is located in the forearm, same side as the thumb. It contributes to pain in middle joint and tip of the thumb. Pinching motions between the forefinger and thumb can cause intense pain. It can also cause the middle thumb joint to pop and sometimes lock.
