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5.5.1

Therapy for the abductor pollicis brevis.

StartingPosition: P: Supine or sitting; elbow flexed approximately 90° and steadied against the couch; forearm fully pronated with wrist in fuli dorsal flexion; thumb fully extended at MCP joint. T: Standing facing P’s right side.

Grip: T’s right hand grips the first metacarpal bonę and the proximal phalanx of P's thumb from the volar side, with thenar eminence stabilizing P’s first metacarpal bonę. T’s left hand stabilizes P’s hand dorsally and holds P’s wrist fully dorsal and ulnar flexed.

Fig. 60 a. Starting Position.

Procedurę: Using this grip, T applies traction and gradually and fully adducts P’s thumb.

Stimulation of Antagonists: T retainsgrip. T then asks P to move further in the direction of stretching, and resists that movement to stimulate P’s antagonists.

Notę: To attain maximal stretching, ic may be necessary to position P’s arm with the elbow extended and the forearm fully supinated.

Fig. 60 b. Finał Position.

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