Large round muscle of the shoulder. Functions, anatomy, structure, aches, how to treat. Photo

The work of the musculoskeletal system in the body is carried out thanks to the muscle tissue. An important role is played large round muscle of the shoulder. In order to understand its purpose, it is necessary to understand the anatomy and functional features of this muscle.

Anatomy of the large round muscle of the shoulder

The muscle in question is flat and elongated in shape. It originates from the inferior angle of the scapula (actually under the scapula) and the fascia of the infraspinatus muscle. Heading outward, the other end of the muscle is attached to the small tubercle of the humerus.

From above, the circular muscle is covered with a superficial layer - the latissimus dorsi, deltoid muscle and the long head of the triceps. The latissimus dorsi muscle and the large round muscle usually work in a friendly manner, since they have similar functional features due to the same attachment points.

In trained people, they are well visualized and are, as it were, an extension of each other. The blood supply to the large round muscle of the shoulder is carried out due to the subscapular artery, and innervation due to the subscapular nerve.

Functional features of the large round muscle of the shoulder

The large round muscle of the shoulder performs the following functions:

• Extends the shoulder at the shoulder joint and rotates (rotates) the shoulder inward.
• Brings the upper limb to the trunk (adduction).
• Pulling the scapula and upper shoulder girdle back.

The large round muscle is one of the main components in the work of the upper shoulder girdle and constantly experiencing increased physical stress due to its functional characteristics and anatomy.

Based on the foregoing, this muscle is easily injured with increased physical exertion.

With possible injuries of the large round muscle of the shoulder, a person cannot raise his hand up or take his shoulder with the shoulder blade back (experiences unpleasant painful sensations).

Causes and types of muscle diseases

The main pathology associated with muscle damage is myositis. Myalgia, that is, muscle pain, is the main symptom of this disease.

This symptom manifests itself as excruciating pulling or constant aching pain in the muscles, which localized both in the projection zone of the affected muscle and spread to neighboring areas (radiate).

Myositis is a disease characterized by inflammation of various origins in the striated muscles. Not only single structures are involved in the process, but also whole muscle groups performing similar functions.

The most common causes of myositis include:

• Injuries of various nature (mainly domestic and industrial).
• Increased physical activity associated with both static stress (prolonged stay in one position) and dynamic loads.
• Infectious diseases caused by bacteria or viruses (acute respiratory viral infections, pneumonia).
• Autoimmune conditions (the human body produces antibodies to the cells of its own tissues, often as a result of infectious diseases).
• Exposure to toxins (long-term intake of alcohol, drugs).
• The impact of certain groups of drugs that lower blood cholesterol levels (atorvastatin), immunomodulators (interferons).

Myositis is characterized by the presence of painful sensations that are aggravated by movements of the hand or feeling it. The nature of the pain in this pathology is usually dull or aching, is permanent. Also, the upper limb, where the affected muscle is located, becomes less functional.

The large round muscle of the shoulder is palpable as a painful induration due to tissue edema caused by a local inflammatory process. If the cause of myositis was a human infection, there may be, in addition to local inflammatory processes are also systemic manifestations of pathology:

• hyperthermia;
• weakness;
• lethargy;
• headaches.

According to the duration of the course, myositis can be acute, as well as chronic (it can proceed in waves).

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary, first of all, to clarify the anamnesis of the disease (localization of pain, their nature, prescription, possible causes), patient complaints, conduct a general examination and correctly assess the symptoms based on the received information.

Laboratory (general and biochemical blood test) and instrumental research methods (ultrasound diagnostics) are auxiliary and allow a more accurate clinical diagnosis based on objective data.

Treatment

When treating muscle diseases such as myositis, great attention should be paid to the daily regimen. It is necessary to abandon the use of alcoholic beverages and other toxic substances, to limit the intake of drugs that aggravate the patient's condition.

The large round muscle of the shoulder needs rest during the period of illness, so you need to pay attention to the dosage of physical activity. In the first days of the disease, it is advisable to refrain from them.

Subsequently, it is recommended to limit ourselves to dosed physical activity in order to avoid traumatic injury. muscles, and also avoid prolonged static stress (prolonged stay in an uncomfortable sitting or standing position).

Treatment of muscle diseases can be conditionally divided into 3 groups:

• Medication.
• Non-drug.
• Folk methods.

Drug treatment

Medicines used to treat myositis include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Antibacterial drugs.
• Hormones.
• Vitamin complexes.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

First-line drugs used to address the inflammatory response include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They also have analgesic and antipyretic effects. The mechanism of action of this group of drugs is aimed at suppressing the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, which is involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid in the body.

Due to the suppression of the work of cyclooxygenase, inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins) are not synthesized from this acid. Prostaglandins also reduce pain sensitivity in tissues and increase the activity of the receptor apparatus in the centers of thermoregulation of the brain. This increases the sensitivity of the receptors to pyrogens and, consequently, the body temperature.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be systemic or topical. Systemic drugs (these include ibuprofen, diclofenac, nimesulide) are aimed at reducing not only the symptoms of inflammation, but also severe pain syndrome, fever.

Given the fact that this group of drugs acts systemically, organs are also exposed gastrointestinal tract (there are frequent cases of recurrence of gastritis or peptic ulcer disease against the background of their prolonged reception).

Medicines for topical use (Diclofenac, Finalgon, Fastum-gel ointments) have a more targeted action (on the affected area) and avoid adverse events from other systems and organs.

Antibacterial drugs

Antibacterial or antiviral drugs are prescribed if the infectious nature of myositis is laboratory confirmed. They try to choose the antibiotic taking into account the sensitivity to the microorganism, or, if it is required to start treatment immediately, a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug is prescribed. The effect of antibiotic therapy is assessed in the first 2-3 days.

If the therapy is selected correctly, a positive trend in the human condition is noted. If there is no effect, an immediate change of the antibiotic is necessary (taking into account the sensitivity).

Hormones

Hormone therapy finds its application when a person has autoimmune diseases or is used as an auxiliary therapy when other methods of drug treatment are ineffective. The drugs are used for a long time and there are frequent cases of side effects against the background of their intake (obesity, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis).

Vitamin complexes

Vitamin complexes are used as an aid in the treatment of myositis and are aimed at improving the nutrition of the affected muscle and the conduction of nerve impulses to it. Prescribed by the course after stopping the inflammatory process. Can be used as tablets or injections (thiamin, cyanocobalamin).

The general scheme of drug treatment of myositis, depending on the severity, can be represented as follows:

Drugs	Severity
Easy	Average	Heavy
NSAIDs	+ locally	+ systemically	+ systemically
Antibiotics	+ infectious nature of myositis
Hormones	—	—	+
Vitamins	+	+	+

Non-drug treatment

The shoulder is well exposed to non-drug treatments for injuries and illnesses. It must be remembered that the methods of physiotherapy of the large round muscle are used only after the normalization of body temperature and relief of the symptoms of inflammation.

Among the types of physiotherapy are:

• Electrophoresis.
• Amplipulse therapy.
• Magnetotherapy.

Electrophoresis

The essence of such a technique as electrophoresis is the penetration of the drug into the tissue, located between the electrode and the surface of human skin, under the influence of a constant electric current.

As drugs, a solution of aminophylline or calcium is used, which accelerate the repair (healing) processes in tissues and improve blood circulation in them. Among the negative aspects of this procedure, one can single out allergic reactions to the drug and a local increase in temperature at the place of application of the electrode.

Amplipulse therapy

The essence of amplipulse therapy is the effect on the damaged tissues (muscles) of an alternating sinusoidal current of low frequency, which is supplied to the damaged area of ​​the body using an electrode.

At the same time, the processes of contraction of muscle fibers, blood circulation in the damaged muscle are improved and reparation processes are accelerated. Due to the alternation of the frequencies of the AC supply, the procedure becomes safer.

Magnetotherapy

Magnetotherapy implies the effect of magnetic fields (constant or variable) on tissues and cells of the body at the molecular level, accelerating metabolic processes in them. Magnetotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected area, relieves pain and swelling, and enhances the local immune response.

Traditional methods of treatment

Myositis, like any other disease, requires careful diagnosis and qualified treatment, especially if the pathology is systemic nature (general intoxication occurs with an increase in body temperature and damage to other organs due to inflammatory process).

However, if the inflammation is local in nature and not sufficiently pronounced, you can use alternative methods of treatment. Usually, herbs and decoctions are used, which have the necessary anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

The following most popular recipes are distinguished:

• Amanita compress:

1. In order to prepare such a compress, it is necessary to finely chop the fly agaric and mix in equal proportions with sour cream.
2. Then this mixture is applied to the affected area (it is important that there are no external damages on it) and wrapped with a towel or other cloth.
3. The compress is left overnight, and then washed off with cool water.

• Rosemary baths:

1. To prepare this therapeutic bath, you will need 50 g of plant leaves, which must be poured with a liter of water and boiled.
2. After boiling, the broth is infused over low heat for another hour.
3. Then the broth is filtered and poured into a bath with previously prepared warm water.

• Pine needles compress:

1. In order to prepare this compress, you need to take pine cones, pour 500 ml of water over them and boil for 50 minutes.
2. The resulting broth is infused for 10 hours, then filtered and then a small amount of oatmeal is added to it.
3. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected area, covering the top with a cloth.

• Cabbage leaf compress:

1. To prepare the compress, you need to boil the cabbage leaf in water.
2. Then treat the sheet with soap, sprinkle with baking soda and tie with a bandage or other cloth.
3. The compress is applied to the affected area for several hours.

• Tincture of adonis:

1. To prepare the tincture, you need to boil the leaves of spring adonis in water, leave to cool, and then strain.
2. The resulting tincture is taken in 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day until complete relief of pain syndrome.

• Geranium leaves:

1. This tool is used to relieve pain in myositis.
2. Geranium leaves are finely ground until a homogeneous content is obtained and then applied to the area of ​​the affected muscle.
3. Geranium leaf compress is effective for half an hour, then it needs to be changed.

Physiotherapy

A complex of therapeutic exercises is necessary for a person to restore muscle tone after an illness. It is important to remember that in the acute period, accompanied by an increase in body temperature and intoxication of the body, it is worth refraining from any physical exercise. Violation of these rules will aggravate the course of the disease.

The large round muscle of the shoulder is involved in a set of therapeutic exercises in the recovery period to strengthen the muscles of the upper shoulder girdle.

These include:

• Rotation of the shoulders forward and backward in a standing or sitting position, fixing the hands on the belt.
• Abducting the shoulders back while sitting, fixing the hands on the belt, until the shoulder blades are as close as possible (while the chest bends forward), then return to the starting position.
• One by one or in a friendly way, raise your arms across the sides and lower them in the same sequence (perform the exercise while standing).
• Horizontal hand swings.
• While standing, perform circular movements with your hands back and forth alternately or in a friendly manner.

Lightweight dumbbells can be used as a dosage of physical activity. All exercises are systematically performed under the supervision of a physician with a generally satisfactory human condition and stable hemodynamic parameters.

Thus, the large round muscle of the shoulder, like all other muscles of the body, plays an important role in human physical activity. Correct dosage of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle will help to avoid injuries and muscle diseases without resorting to the healing process.

Video about the large round muscle of the shoulder

Anatomy of a large round muscle: