Injuries

Injuries Guide

Achilles tendon pain (often called tendinitis): soleus, gastrocnemius, plantaris,

tibialis posterior (Note: a seeming “tumor” behind the tendon can be an extra

head of the soleus, found in a small percentage of people)

Ankle and foot, apparent “tendinitis,” “stress fracture,” “strained ligament:” soleus,

gastrocnemius, tibialis posterior, tibialis anterior

Ankle sprain: tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, extensor digitorum

longus, extensor hallucis longus

Automobile accident (see also Whiplash): quadratus lumborum, piriformis,

intrapelvic muscles, quadriceps femoris, semimembranosus

Ball throwing, repetitive, causing shoulder pain: subscapularis, latissimus dorsi

Cast, after broken arm: subscapularis

Cast or brace, after knee injury or broken leg: popliteus, plantaris

Catching toe while kicking a ball: extensor hallucis longus

Chilled feet, especially wet and cold: quadratus plantae, flexor hallucis brevis,

adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, interossei

Cold buttocks or torso: gluteus minimus

Cold draft of air across head: temporalis

Crutches can cause trigger points in weight-bearing side: quadratus lumborum,

gluteus minimus

Direct impact to any muscle can cause trigger points.

Dislocation of shoulder joint: subscapularis

Falling injuries:

arresting fall with arm reaching back: subscapularis

down steps: trapezius, soleus

head, acute trauma: posterior cervical muscles; hit on side: temporalis

head violently moves: scalene muscles, trapezius, anterior and posterior

cervical muscles

high falls, landing on feet: soleus

legs split apart: pectineus, adductor group

off a horse: trapezius (see also “onto gluteal area,” or “onto shoulder”)

onto gluteal area: iliopsoas, intrapelvic muscles, quadratus lumborum,

piriformis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus

onto knee: vastus medialis, vastus intermedius

onto shoulder, elbow, or wrist: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor,

subscapularis, deltoid

prone to lurching or falling: sternocleidomastoid (clavicular)

sideways, hitting thigh against something: vastus lateralis, vastus

intermedius

slipping, but catching the fall: piriformis, quadriceps femoris, soleus,

adductor magnus, infraspinatus

stepping off curb: quadriceps femoris

stumbling: quadriceps femoris

sudden, unexpected fall: soleus

tripping, catching toe during swing phase of step: tibialis anterior

twisting leg with inversion of the ankle: peroneus longus, peroneus brevis

vigorous twisting of leg with foot planted: sartorius

Fracture:

arm, proximal humerus: subscapularis

ankle: peroneal muscles, gastrocnemius, extensor digitorum longus, extensor

hallucis longus, see also “foot” below

foot: extensor digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis brevis, abductor hallucis,

flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi, quadratus plantae,

flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis,

interossei

“Groin pull,” deep ache in groin: pectineus, psoas, gracilis, adductor longus, adductor

magnus

Hamstring injuries: semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris, quadriceps

femoris

Head hit on side, auto accident or by ball: temporalis

Hip injuries:

buckling: quadriceps femoris

extreme hyperextension, especially with twisting: sartorius

sudden twist: adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, pectineus

Immobility:

prolonged sitting, as in driving long distances: gluteus minimus

prolonged sitting with heavy weight in lap (i.e. child): rectus femoris

Jaw pain after whiplash: suprahyoid, infrahyoid, masseter, temporalis

Knee brace (wearing immobilizes muscle, causing trigger points): popliteus,

plantaris

Knee twisted during activity: popliteus

Lifting injuries:

arm overhead: supraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, deltoid, latissimus

dorsi, teres major, serratus anterior, pectoralis minor, diaphragm,

intercostal muscles

heavy weight: intrapelvic, iliopsoas, pectineus, sternocleidomastoid, deltoid

heavy weight overhead, losing balance: teres minor

heavy weight with arms in front, palms up: coracobrachialis

arms hanging straight down while lifting: supraspinatus

lifting overhead with adduction (as in swinging a child from the ground

overhead), repetitive: subscapularis

lifting with knees bent, repetitive: gluteus maximus

sudden overload poorly coordinated: deep spinal muscles, superficial spinal

muscles

twisting while lifting: piriformis, quadratus lumborum

Limping: gluteus minimus, piriformis

Out of shape, pain from working out too hard: piriformis, sartorius, rectus femoris,

vastus medialis, psoas, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius and minimus,

adductors, quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, soleus

Repetitive strain:

leaning sideways, causing one hip to block movement: piriformis

Rotator cuff damage: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis

Slipping on ice, coming down stairs, sudden overload with feet apart: adductor

magnus

Sprained ankle: peroneus longus, peroneus brevis

Sprained thumb: opponens pollicis, adductor pollicis, flexor pollicis longus, first

interosseus, brachialis, supinator, brachioradialis, flexor carpi radialis

Sprained wrist: extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, opponens pollicis

Stubbed toes: extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, extensor

digitorum brevis, extensor hallucis brevis, abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum

brevis, abductor digiti minimi, quadratus plantae, flexor hallucis brevis,

adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, interossei

“Tennis elbow” or “epicondylitis,” whether actual injury due to overuse or apparent

injury due to trigger points: triceps, supraspinatus, extensor carpi radialis

longus, anconeus

Trigger finger: tender spot in fascial sheath of flexor digitorum (use deep massage to

a tender spot on the palm side of the knuckle where the finger joins the

hand), interossei

Twisted torso to one side, while bending and lifting, or while rising from chair, or

while sitting down: quadratus lumborum

Unbalanced suddenly, while dressing (standing on one leg), or nearly falling:

quadratus lumborum

Whiplash, hyperextension-flexion strain or injury, or acceleration-deceleration injury: sternocleidomastoid, scalene muscles, trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis, pectoralis minor, pectoralis major, masseter, temporalis, suprahyoid group, infrahyoid group, longus colli, longus capitis, semispinalis capitis, deep and superficial spinal muscles of posterior neck and upper back, teres minor, abdominal muscles