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Table 4-2. Actions of muscles which may restrict movement at the wrist.

MUSCLE	ACTION
Extensor digitorum communis	Extends fingers. Flexes at elbow. Supinates forearm. Dorsal flexes at wrist.
Extensor pollicis longus	Extends thumb. Supinates forearm. Dorsal and radial flexes at wrist.
Extensor pollicis brevis	Extends thumb at CMC- and MCP-joints (and often IP-joint). Radial flexes at wrist. Volar or dorsal flexes at wrist (depending on position of hand). Supinates forearm.
Extensor indicis	Extends and ulnar deviates index finger. Supinates forearm. Dorsal flexes at wrist.
Extensor digiti minimi	Extends little finger. Flexes at elbow. Dorsal and ulnar flexes at wrist.
Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis	Flex at elbow. Supinate forearm. Dorsal and radial flex at wrist.
Extensor carpi ulnaris	Dorsal and ulnar flexes at wrist. Flexes at elbow. Supinates forearm.
Palmaris longus	F!exes at elbow. Pronates forearm. Volar f!exes at wrist.
Flexor carpi ulnaris	Flexes at elbow. Pronates forearm. Volar and ulnar flexes at wrist.
Flexor carpi radialis	Flexes at elbow. Pronates forearm. Volar and radial flexes at wrist.
Flexor digitorum super-ficialis	Flexes fingers (including at PIP joints). Flexes at elbow. Volar flexes at wrist.
Flexor digitorum pro-fundus	Flexes all finger joints except thumb. Volar flexes at wrist.
Flexor pollicis longus	Opposes and flexes thumb. Volar flexes at wrist. May pronate forearm. Flexes at elbow (rarely).
Abductor pollicis longus	Abducts thumb. Radial and volar flexes at wrist. Supinates forearm.

NOTES:    1. Actions described in terms most relevant to manuał therapy. Cross-reference to terms often used in anatomy

texts:

Ulnar flexion (towards ulna), corresponds to adduction (usually of hand)

Radial flexion (towards radius), corresponds to abduction (usually of hand)

Volar flexion (towards palm), corresponds to flexion of hand

dorsal flexion (towards back of hand), corresponds to extension of hand

2. Finger joint abbreviations: CCM - Carpo-metacarpal, IP - Interphalangeal, MCP - Metacarpo-phalangeal, PIP - Proximal - interphalangeal.

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