The groups listed are:

SITS Group

Deep Hip Outward Rotators

Iliopsoas

Gluteals

Hamstrings

Adductors

Triceps Surae

Scalenes

Suboccipitals

Abdominals

Quadriceps Femoris

Remember to review these often after you finish massage therapy school so that you can keep them fresh in your mind. Because there are so many, you tend to forget which one does what function on the body so reviewing them from time to time will assist you. You will need to know where they are, what they do, and in what directions their fibers go as you massage clients. This is very important if you want to help your clients who are having pain.

The musculotendinous cuff is also known as the rotator cuff. It is a group of muscles under the deltoid muscle.

It consists of supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. They are more commonly known as the SITS group using the first initial from each muscle in the order above.

Below is the muscle study aid for massage therapy students.

Supraspinatus

Supraspinatus is the only member of the SITS group that does not rotate the humerus. When carrying something heavy, the supraspinatous stops the arm from downward dislocation.

Origin is supraspinatus fossa of the scapula.

Insertion is greater tubercle of the humerus.

Action--it abducts the shoulder.

Infraspinatus

Origin is infraspinatus fossa of the scapula.

Insertion is greater tubercle of the humerus.

Action--laterally rotates the shoulder.

Teres Minor

Origin is superior half of lateral border of scapula.

Insertion is greater tubercle of humerus.

Actions--adducts shoulder and laterally rotates shoulder.

Teres Minor is aids Infraspinatus in its movements and may fuse with it.

Subscapularis

Origin is subscapular fossa of scapula.

Insertion is lesser tubercle of humerus.

Action--medially rotates shoulder.

This is also known as the frozen shoulder muscle.

The deep hip outward rotators muscle group is made of 6 muscles. They are obturator internus, obturator externus, piriformis, gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, and quadratus femoris.

They all act as synergists to each other, meaning they all assist each other in their movements.

Below are the study aids for massage school.

Obturator Internus

Origin is obturator membrane.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Action--laterally rotates hip.

Obturator Externus

Origins are obturator membrane, superior pubic ramus, and inferior pubic ramus.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Action--laterally rotates hip.

Piriformis

Origin is anterior sacrum.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Actions--laterally rotates hip and abducts the hip.

This is the largest of the lateral rotator muscles.

Gemellus Superior

Origin is ischial spine.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Action--laterally rotates hip.

Gemullus Inferior

Origin is superior ischial tuberosity.

Insertion is greater tuberosity.

Action--laterally rotates hip.

Quadratus Femoris

Origin is lateral ischial tuberosity.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Action--laterally rotates hip.

The Iliopsoas is made up of psoas major, psoas minor, and iliacus. This muscle group lifts the leg and initiates walking. It is the major cause of pain in the muscles of the lower back.

The psoas minor muscle is absent in approximately 60% of cadavers so it is not normally discussed in massage class (at least not mine).

The muscle study aid for massage therapy students is below.

Psoas Major

Origins are transverse process of T12-L5 and vertebral bodies of T12-L5.

Insertion is lesser trochanter.

Actions--It rotates the hip laterally. It flexes the hip and flexes the vertebral column.

The strongest hip flexor muscle is Psoas major.

Iliacus

Origins are iliac fossa and anterior inferior iliac spine.

Insertion is lesser trochanter.

Actions--it laterally rotates the hip and flexes the hip.

The Gluteals consist of 3 muscles: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. Also known as glutes, these muscles act as antagonists to themselves.

Gluteus Maximus

Origins are posterior sacrum, posterior coccyx, and posterior iliac crest.

Insertions are gluteal tuberosity and iliotibial band.

Actions--laterally rotates the hip, adducts the hip, and extends the hip.

This is the strongest hip extensor. It can be more than 1 inch thick. This is your power muscle for getting up from a chair, for climbing and for running.

Below is the muscles study aid for massage therapy students.

Gluteus Medius

Origin is superior gluteal line.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Actions--abducts hip and medially rotates hip.

This muscle allows us to stand on one leg by stabilizing the hip.

Gluteus Minimus

Origin is inferior gluteal line.

Insertion is greater trochanter.

Actions--medially rotates hip and abducts hip.

Synergist to gluteus medius.

The Hamstrings consist of semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris with its 2 heads.

Below are the muscle study aids for massage therapy students.

Semitendinosus

Origin is iscial tuberosity.

Insertion is medial proximal tibial shaft at pes anserinus.

Actions--flexes knee, medially rotates knee, posteriorly tilts pelvis, extends hip, and medially rotates hip.

This muscle is on top of semimembranosus.

Semimembranosus

Origin is ischial tuberosity.

Insertion is medial condyle of tibia.

Actions--posteriorly tilts pelvis, extends hip, medially rotates hip, flexes knee, and medially rotates knee.

This muscle is located under semitendinosus and is the most medial of the group.

Biceps Femoris

Origins are ischial tuberosity for the long head and linea aspera-lateral lip for the short head.

Insertion is fibular head.

Actions--posteriorly tilts pelvis, laterally rotates hip, extends hip, flexes knee, laterally rotates knee.

This muscle has 2 heads, the long head and the short head. The short head may occasionally be absent.

The Adductors Group makes up the inner thigh muscles. These very important muscles are responsible for hip movements and knee movements. Just how important are they? You use them all day long as you move from point A to point B. They are very important. Just think, without them you would not be able to walk, run, dance, or pivot your legs to turn.

Imagine how it would be if you could not walk or run or turn your legs in a different direction.

This busy group of muscles consists of pectineus, gracilis, adductor magnus, adductor longus, and adductor brevis.

Pectineus

Origin is superior pubic ramus.

Insertion is linea aspera.

Actions--adducts the hip and flexes the hip.

Gracilis

Origin is inferior pubic ramus.

Insertion is medial proximal tibial shaft.

Actions--flexes hip, adducts hip, flexes knee, medially rotates knee.

This is the only muscle in the group to cross both the hip and the knee. It is the most medial.

Adductor Magnus

Origins are ischial tuberosity, inferior pubic ramus, and ischial ramus.

Insertions are linea aspera and adductor tubercle of the femur.

Actions--adducts hip, flexes hip, and extends hip.

This muscle is beneath the hamstrings.

Adductor Longus

Origin is pubic tubercle.

Insertion is linea aspera.

Action--adducts hip.

Adductor Brevis

Origin is inferior pubic ramus.

Insertion is linea aspera.

Action--adducts hip.

The triceps surae is a muscle grouping of soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius.

This group of muscles is responsible for lifting the weight of a person when walking or running forward.

Below is the muscle study aid for massage therapy students.

Soleus

Origins are soleal line of tibia and superior posterior 1/3 of fibular shaft.

Insertion is calcaneus by way of Achilles tendon.

Action--plantar flexes the ankle.

Soleus has the shape of a sole fish from the Mediterranean so that is where it gets its name.

Plantaris

Origin is lateral epicondyle of the femur.

Insertion is calcaneus by way of Achilles tendon.

Actions are flexes knee and plantar flexes ankle.

Gastrocnemius

Origins are medial epicondyle of femur and lateral epicondyle of femur.

Insertion is calcaneus by way of Achilles tendon.

Actions are flexes knee and plantar flexes ankle.

Because it allows a ballerina to stand tip-toe, it is called the toe dancer's muscle.

The scalenes contain scalenus anterior, scalenus medius, and scalenus posterior. This muscle group helps to stabilize the neck when the body is moving. These 3 muscles are located on the sides of the neck.

A word of caution--the subclavian artery and the brachial plexus are between the scalenus anterior and the scalenus medius. Care should be taken when working these muscles.

Below is the study guide for these muscles for massage therapy students.

Scalenus Anterior

Origin: Transverse processes of C3-C6

Insertion: Rib 1

Actions:

Flexes neck laterally

Rotates head

Raises the first rib during inhalation

Scalenus Medius

Origin: Transverse processes of C2-C7

Insertion: Rib 1

Actions:

Laterally flexes neck

Rotates head

Elevates first rib during inhalation

Scalenus Posterior

Origin: Transverse processes of C4-C6

Insertion: Rib 2

Actions:

Laterally flexes neck

Rotates head

Elevates second rib during inhalation

The suboccipitals are located in the back of the neck. This group of muscles is comprised of oblique capitis superior, oblique capitis inferior, rectus capitus posterior major, and rectus capitis posterior minor.

They are sometimes knows as ghost headache muscles because it is difficult to pinpoint where the referred pain is coming from.

All four of these muscles are responsible for starting head movements and all attach on C1-C2.

The muscle study aid is below for massage therapy students.

Oblique Capitis Superior

Origin is transverse process of C1.

Insertion is inferior nuchal line.

Actions--rotates head and extends head.

Oblique Capitis Inferior

Origin is spinous process of C2.

Insertion is transverse process of C1.

Action--rotates head.

Rectus Capitis Posterior Major

Origin is spinous process of C2.

Insertion is inferior nuchal line.

Actions--extends the head and rotates the head.

Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor

Origin is posterior tubercle of C1.

Insertion is inferior nuchal line.

Action--extends head.

Tension in this muscle causes vascular headaches as it attaches to the dura mater.

Here are the abdominal muscles for your massage study. The abdominals are comprised of four muscles.

They are rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus, internal obliques, and external obliques. The fibers of these muscles run in four different ways and act as an insulator to hold the internal organs in place.

Rectus Abdominus

Origins are pubic symphysis and pubic tubercle.

Insertions are ribs 5-7 and xiphoid process.

Actions--flexes the vertebral column, compresses contents of the abdomen, and tilts the pelvis anteriorly.

Every few inches there is a band of horizontal connective tissue. This band of tissue is called a tendinous intersection.This muscle sometimes separates in the late stages of pregnancy and when this occurs, it is called rectus diastasis.

Transverse Abdominus

Origins are ribs 7-12, iliac crest, inguinal ligament, and thoracolumbar aponeurosis.

Insertions are abdominal aponeurosis and linea alba.

Action--compresses contents of the abdomen.

This is the deepest of the stomach muscles and it stabilizes the lumbar spine by wrapping around the internal organs. It is also known as the complex muscle.

Internal Obliques

Origins are iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia, and inguinal ligament.

Insertions are ribs 7-12 and linea alba.

Actions--compresses contents of the abdomen, flexes vertebral column, laterally flexes vertebral column, and rotates vertebral column.

External Obliques

Origins are ribs 5-12.

Insertions are linea alba, iliac crest, and abdominal fascia.

Actions--compresses contents of the abdomen, flexes vertebral column, laterally flexes vertebral column, and rotates vertebral column.

The quadriceps femoris is made up of 4 muscles that share an attachment site on the tibia. They are rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis.

Below is the study aid for massage therapy students for this muscle group.

Rectus Femoris

Origin is anterior inferior iliac spine.

Insertion is tibial tuberosity. 

Actions--extends knee and flexes hip.

It crosses 2 joints, the hip and knee and the vastus intermedius is underneath it.

Vastus Intermedius

Origin is anterior lateral femoral shaft.

Insertion is tibial tuberosity.

Action --extends knee.

Vastus Medialis

Origin is linea aspera.

Insertion is tibial tuberosity.

Action--extends knee.

Vastus Lateralis

Origins are linea aspera and gluteal tuberosity.

Insertion is tibial tuberosity.

Action--extends knee.