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The teres minor, a small but vital muscle in your shoulder, plays a key role in stabilising joints and enabling movements like reaching overhead or rotating your arm. When this muscle weakens or wastes away—a condition called teres minor muscle atrophy—it can lead to pain, reduced mobility, and challenges in daily life. Let’s learn what causes this condition, how it’s diagnosed, and most importantly, how you can regain strength and mobility.

Causes of Teres Minor Muscle Atrophy 

Teres minor muscle atrophy often results from injuries or conditions affecting the shoulder. 

Common causes include:

• Quadrilateral Space Syndrome (QSS): Chronic compression of the axillary nerve or posterior humeral circumflex artery within the quadrilateral space due to fibrous bands, cysts, or hypertrophy.
• Rotator Cuff Tears: Often associated with supraspinatus or infraspinatus tears, leading to disuse and fatty degeneration.
• Axillary Nerve Injury: Trauma, traction injuries, or anatomical variations causing nerve impingement.
• Chronic Disuse: Prolonged immobilisation or functional impairment from shoulder injuries.
• Space-Occupying Lesions: Lipomas, cysts, or dilated veins compressing the nerve or artery in the quadrilateral space.
• Nerve Compression: The axillary nerve, which powers the teres minor, can become compressed in the quadrilateral space. This compression can lead to muscle atrophy and is often associated with chronic pain and weakness.
• Trauma: In young individuals, sports-related factors such as infraspinatus hypertrophy or axillary nerve injury may also contribute to teres minor atrophy.

Symptoms of Minor Muscle Atrophy 

Symptoms often develop gradually and may include:

• Weakness when rotating your arm outward or lifting objects.
• Shoulder pain, especially at the back of the joint, which may worsen at night.
• Numbness or tingling radiating down the arm in cases of nerve compression.
• Visible muscle thinning in advanced cases, detectable via imaging scans like MRI.

If you’ve experienced a recent shoulder injury or notice persistent discomfort, early evaluation is critical.

Treatment Options for Restoring Function 

Treatment depends on the underlying cause:

Non-Surgical Treatments for Teres Minor Muscle Atrophy

• Physical Therapy: Focuses on exercises to improve shoulder mobility and strength, including scapular stabilization and rotator cuff strengthening.
• Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
• Activity Modification: Avoid activities that exacerbate symptoms, such as abduction and external rotation.
• Corticosteroid Injections: May be used for persistent pain, though the evidence is limited.
• Rest and Ice: Initial management to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Surgical Treatments for Teres Minor Muscle Atrophy

• Arthroscopic Debridement: For isolated tears or chronic inflammation.
• Partial or Complete Repair: Surgical reattachment of torn tendons.
• Superior Capsular Reconstruction: For irreparable tears to restore shoulder stability.
• Muscle and Tendon Transfers: Using nearby muscles to restore function.
• Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: For severe cases with significant joint damage.
• Decompression Surgery: For quadrilateral space syndrome to relieve nerve compression.

Conclusion

Teres minor muscle atrophy is a condition that requires attention and care, but with the right treatment plan, you can regain strength and mobility. Whether through targeted exercises, physical therapy, or addressing underlying nerve issues, there are many ways to manage and improve muscle function. If you’re concerned about shoulder weakness or muscle wasting, don’t wait—consult with an orthopedic specialist today to start your journey towards recovery.

For enquiries and online appointments, send a message to www.BangaloreShoulderInstitute.com/contact

For informative videos related to Shoulder problems and their treatment options, Sports Injuries and other orthopedic conditions, visit the YouTube channel Bangalore Shoulder Institute – https://www.youtube.com/@BangaloreShoulderInstitute