Muscles
Serratus posterior inferior
Depresses the lower ribs during expiration.
Overview
Depresses the lower ribs during expiration. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Lower thoracic region over the lower ribs.
Referred pain pattern
Local ache over the lower ribs, sometimes confused with kidney pain.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Chronic cough, asymmetric loading, repeated rotation.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Breathing retraining, address load. Clinically: manual release and needling.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction