From stiff necks to ‘lazy glutes’: why these unloved muscles could prevent injury – and how to train yours

Never heard of your lower trapezius? Don’t know your rotator cuff from your neck flexor? To alleviate common injuries, it’s time to get to know them

Killer abs, beefy biceps and perky pecs are classic signifiers of strong, well-exercised bodies, but not many people walk into a gym with a goal of building up their teres minor. This more low-key muscle, along with several others, is often underappreciated and weak, even among fitness fans. Neglecting such muscles as the teres minor can cause overuse of other muscles to compensate, or a lack of stability around a joint, which can lead to common painful injuries. And as anyone currently in musculo-skeletal pain knows all too well, it’s preferable to build up these forgotten muscles before you end up on the physiotherapist’s waiting list with an agonising shoulder, hip or lower back. Here are those elusive muscle groups to look out for.

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