Deltoideus Pars Spinalis (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Posterior Deltoid“, p. 306

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Extend, abduct or laterally rotate the arm.
Crosstalk from: middle deltoid · infraspinatus · teres major · triceps brachii

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · SENIAM reference table · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Which Muscles Cannot Be Measured With Surface EMG — and Why → Specific, Quasi-Specific, General — The Three Types of Surface EMG Placement →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 77 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis (Posterior Deltoid) is a muscle of the shoulder region. It is responsible for retroversion (extension), external rotation and horizontal abduction at shoulder joint. This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Retroversion (extension), external rotation and horizontal abduction at shoulder joint Origin Spine of scapula (inferior border) Insertion Deltoid tuberosity of humerus Innervation Axillary nerve (posterior cord), C5–C6

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Rotator cuff rehabilitation
Impingement syndrome biofeedback
Pre-/post-surgical shoulder assessment

Test Movement

Move arm backward (extension) against resistance

Detail: sensor on the M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Seated with the trunk supported, arm at about 90° flexion or prone on a bench with the arm hanging.
Fixation: Trunk fixed; upper arm fixed near the test position.
Resistance: Manual resistance or strap against the back of the upper arm, extension / horizontal abduction against it.
Control exercise: Compare with the horizontal-abduction test used for the middle trapezius and rhomboids.

Konrad recommends a flexion/extension position for the spinal part of the deltoid; the posterior part shares the horizontal-abduction test of the shoulder stabilisers.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 31. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In rehabilitation, the Posterior Deltoid is typically recorded to track progress and retrain activation.

EMG biofeedback in physiotherapy → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis?

2 finger widths behind the acromial angle. Orientation: Toward acromion–little finger. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis?

Move arm backward (extension) against resistance. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Deltoideus Pars Spinalis

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)