Pain does not explain reduced teres major co-contraction during abduction in patients with Subacromial Pain Syndrome

•Patients with subacromial pain have less teres major co-contraction than controls.•Teres major co-contraction may reduce subacromial pain by humeral head depression.•Subacromial pain has no influence on the degree of teres major co-contraction.•This may open a window for evidence-based physiotherapy with teres major training.