Flexion and extension angles of resting fingers and wrist

Abstract

This study determined flexion and extension angles of resting fingers and wrist in terms of forearm posture (neutral, pronation and supination) and shoulder flexion (0?, 45?, 90? and 135?). The participants participated in 12 angle measurements for 16 finger joints and wrist. The finger joints flexed more in supination than in neutral posture and pronation and the thumb flexed more than the other fingers because of the gravity and skin tension. This phenomenon became more apparent as the shoulder flexed. The carpometacarpal joint had the largest flexion angle in the thumb joints, whereas the proximal interphalangeal joints had the largest flexion angles in the other finger joints. The resting posture of the wrist extended of ~16? in any forearm postures when the shoulder was at 0?. The results of this study could be useful for rehabilitation tool and product designs.