Massage Therapy

What muscles would you target to address anterior shoulder pain or tension?

Pectoralis minor, coracobrachialis, subscapularis, pectoralis major, biceps brachii (long head), scalenes, latissimus dorsi, teres major.

What muscles would you target to address lateral shoulder pain or tension?

Supraspinatus, deltoid, infraspinatus, upper trapezius, serratus anterior.

What muscles would you target to address posterior shoulder pain or tension?

Infraspinatus, teres minor, levator scapulae, rhomboids, teres major, latissimus dorsi, trapezius, posterior deltoid.

What muscles would you target to address lower back pain or tension?

Quadratus lumborum (QL), erector spinae (lumbar), multifidi, gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, thoracolumbar fascia, piriformis, iliopsoas, proximal hamstrings.

What muscles would you target to address general hip pain or tension?

Piriformis, gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, hip flexors (iliopsoas, rectus femoris, sartorius, TFL), adductors, proximal hamstrings, IT band.

What muscles would you target for lateral hip pain or tension?

TFL, gluteus medius and minimus, IT band, vastus lateralis, piriformis, quadratus lumborum.

What muscles would you target for anterior hip or groin pain or tension?

Iliopsoas, rectus femoris, pectineus, adductors, sartorius, TFL.

What muscles would you target for posterior hip pain or tension?

Piriformis, gluteus maximus/medius, proximal hamstrings, QL, erector spinae (lumbar), latissimus dorsi (lower), thoracolumbar fascia.

What muscles would you target to address neck pain or tension?

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM), scalenes, upper trapezius, suboccipitals, cervical multifidi, levator scapulae.

What muscles would you target to address knee pain or tension?

IT band/TFL, popliteus, hamstrings, gracilis, gastrocnemius.

What muscles would you target to address ankle/foot pain or tension?

Tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, intrinsic foot muscles (flexor digitorum brevis, quadratus plantae), fibularis longus/brevis, gastrocnemius/soleus.

What muscles would you target to address elbow pain or tension?

Forearm flexors/extensors (wrist flexors, brachioradialis), triceps brachii, brachialis, pronator teres.

What muscles would you target to address thoracic (mid-back) pain or tension?

Thoracic erector spinae, rhomboids, multifidi, serratus posterior inferior, latissimus dorsi.

What muscles would you target to address TMJ (jaw) pain or tension?

Masseter, temporalis, lateral/medial pterygoids, SCM, suprahyoids, suboccipitals.

What muscles would you target to address wrist/hand pain or tension?

Forearm flexors/extensors, thenar muscles, hypothenar muscles, lumbricals, interossei.

What muscles would you target to address SI joint pain or tension?

Piriformis, gluteus medius/maximus, multifidi (L5-S1), iliacus, thoracolumbar fascia, QL, adductor magnus, biceps femoris.

What muscles would you target to address plantar fasciitis pain or tension?

Intrinsic foot muscles (flexor digitorum brevis, abductor hallucis, quadratus plantae), tibialis posterior, fibularis longus, gastrocnemius/soleus, plantar fascia.

What muscles would you target to address IT band syndrome?

Tensor fasciae latae (TFL), gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, iliotibial (IT) band, hip flexors.

What muscles would you target to address groin pain or tension?

Adductors (longus, brevis, magnus), pectineus, gracilis, iliopsoas, rectus abdominis.

What muscles would you target to address shin splints pain or tension?

Tibialis posterior, soleus (deep fibers), flexor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior.

What muscles would you target to address upper back pain or tension?

Rhomboids, trapezius (middle/lower), levator scapulae, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae group, scalenes, pectoralis minor, suboccipitals.

What muscles would you target to address calf pain or tension?

Gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, popliteus, fibularis longus/brevis.

What muscles would you target to address pelvic floor pain or tension?

Iliopsoas, adductors, gluteals, abdominal fasciae.

What muscles would you target to address hamstring pain or tension?

Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gluteus maximus, adductor magnus, popliteus.

What muscles would you target to address tension headaches?

Suboccipitals, temporalis, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), splenius capitis, upper trapezius, frontalis, scalp fascia (galea aponeurotica), occipitalis, masseter.

What muscles would you target to address thoracic outlet syndrome?

Scalenes (anterior/middle), pectoralis minor/major, upper trapezius, suboccipitals, subclavius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM).

What muscles would you target to address anterior thigh pain?

Quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis/medialis/intermedius), sartorius, iliopsoas, TFL, pectineus, adductor longus/magnus.

What muscles would you target to address chest tightness (posture-related)?

Pectoralis major/minor, subclavius, intercostals, serratus anterior, scalenes, SCM, thoracolumbar fascai, latissimus dorsi.

What muscles would you target to address breathing dysfunction?

Scalenes, SCM, intercostals, pectoralis minor, abdominal fasciae, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi,

What muscles would you target to address medial shin pain?

Tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior, flexor digitorum longus, soleus, flexor hallucis longus.

What muscles would you target to address lateral elbow pain (tennis elbow)?

Extensor carpi radialis brevis, supinator, brachioradialis, triceps brachii.

What muscles would you target to address medial elbow pain (golfer’s elbow)?

Flexor carpi ulnaris, medial head of triceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, pronator teres, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum superficialis.

What muscles would you target to address sciatica-like symptoms?

Piriformis, gluteus maximus/medius, hamstrings, QL, lumbar erector spinae, adductor magnus.

What muscles would you target to address anterior knee pain?

Vastus medialis/lateralis, rectus femoris, TFL, distal hamstrings.

What muscles would you target to address abdominal tension?

Rectus abdominis, obliques (internal/external), transversus abdominis, psoas.

What muscles would you target to address scapular winging?

Serratus anterior, rhomboids, lower trapezius, pectoralis minor.

What muscles would you target to address Achilles tendon tension?

Gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus.

What muscles would you target to address anterior ankle impingement?

Tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, extensor retinaculum.

What muscles would you target to address upper arm tension?

Biceps brachii, triceps brachii, coracobrachialis, brachialis, brachioradialis.

What muscles would you target to address posterior pelvic tilt?

Hamstrings, gluteus maximus, rectus abdominis, obliques, adductor longus/magnus, hip flexors (iliopsoas, rectus femoris), lumbar erector spinae, thoracolumbar fascia.

What muscles would you target to address forward head posture?

Suboccipitals, upper trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenes, cervical multifidi, SCM, pectoralis minor.

What muscles would you target to address arch collapse (flat feet)?

Tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, intrinsic foot muscles, fibularis longus, gastrocnemius, soleus, fibularis brevis.

What is local tension? Give an example muscle for hip pain.

Tension originating directly in the affected muscle. Example: Piriformis (posterior hip pain).

What is compensatory tension? Give an example muscle pair for low back pain.

Tension caused by tightness/weakness elsewhere. Example: Tight hip flexors ➔ strained QL (low back).

How to differentiate local vs. compensatory neck tension?

• Local: Suboccipitals, upper traps.

• Compensatory: Tight pecs/scalenes ➔ overworked neck muscles.

Name a compensatory tension pattern for shoulder pain.

Weak serratus anterior ➔ overused upper traps/levator scapulae (shoulder/neck pain).

What muscles might cause compensatory knee pain (not local)?

Tight IT band/TFL ➔ knee pain. Weak glutes ➔ overworked hamstrings.

Describe the Pin and Stretch technique.

With the muscle shortened, compress a point in the muscle belly, lengthen while pinning, then return to a shortened position.

Describe how to perform myofascial release.

Static, passive, or active
Apply deep, gliding pressure over a broad area with or without movement, which may be facilitated by the therapist or the client. With movement, pressure is first applied to the muscle in a shortened position.

Describe how to perform eccentric contraction of a muscle.

With the muscle in a shortened position, the client attempts to maintain the contraction against the resistance applied by the therapist, who lengthens the muscle.

Describe the manual stretching technique.

Performed by either cross fiber friction or by grasping the muscle belly, lengthen and hold the muscle before it naturally releases tension and returns to a relaxed state.

Describe how to perform muscle stripping.

With the muscle in a shortened position, apply targeted, deep, and gliding pressure to the full length of the muscle.

Describe how to perform manual trigger point release.

With the muscle lengthened, apply targeted, deep pressure until the discomfort subsides.

Recount two neuromuscular techniques and describe how they’re performed.

(PNF) Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation: lengthen and flex the targeted muscle.
Reciprocal Inhibition: Lengthen and flex the antagonist of the targeted muscle.