The latissimus dorsi muscles, known as the lats, are the large V-shaped muscles that connect your arms to your vertebral column. They help protect and stabilize your spine while providing shoulder and back strength.

What are your laterals?

The lats, aka the latissimus dorsi,1 are the large muscles of the back. These muscles are located on either side of the back and travel from the back of the shoulder all the way down to the hips.

What does LAT pain feel like?

When your latissimus dorsi is injured, you might feel pain in your low back, mid-to-upper back, along the base of your scapula, or in the back of the shoulder. You may even feel pain along the inside of the arm, all the way down to your fingers.