1. Intro and Purposes
Currently, the reference values of normal range of
motion of the wrist joint are for an open palm hand
position with fingers extended. However, the
functional range of motion when grasping or
pinching an object is likely to be significantly
different from traditional range of motion practiced
today, which may have a profound effect in
occupational therapy practice.
The purpose of this study is to examine the
functional range of motion of the wrist joint under
varied grasping tasks by position and applied
force. The study will provide preliminary data for
functional wrist range of motion with grasping
techniques commonly used in daily activities.
Methods
General demographic information was collected.
The maximum voluntary contraction force (MVC)
of each subject was obtained for each position (1)
neutral, (2) supination, and (3) pronation using a
Jamar Grip Dynamometer.
Maximum wrist flexion, extension, radial and ulnar
deviation joint range of motion (ROM) were
measured using a photo and digitalization method
under the following conditions:
• By position (1) neutral, (2) supination, and (3)
pronation, and;
• By applied grip force (1) none, fingers open, (2)
5% MVC, (3) 25% MVC, and (4) 50% MVC
Descriptive statistics and repeated two-way
ANOVAs for position, grip force, and interactions
between position and grip force in each joint ROM
were used.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this research study was supported
through grants awarded by the organization,
Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows
(SURF).
Results
For each joint ROM (1) wrist extension, (2) wrist
flexion, (3) radial deviation, and (4) ulnar
deviation:
• A position effect was found for all positions (1)
neutral, (2) supination, and (3) pronation
(p<0.001),
• A grip force effect was found for each grip force
(1) none, fingers are open, (2) 5% maximum
voluntary contraction (MVC), (3) 25% MVC, and
(4) 50% MVC (p<0.001), and
• No interaction effect was found between
position and grip force (p>0.05).
Participants
A convenience sample of 26 healthy participants
was attained:
• 18 to 36 years of age
• 12 male and 14 female
• 23 right-handed and 3 left-handed
• Mean height of 1.74 meters (SD=0.1)
• Mean weight of 74.48 kilograms
Conclusions
The results of this pilot study suggest that the
functional range of motion of the wrist is
influenced by the measurement position and
applied grip force.
Statistically significant effects were found for each
position and grip force applied (p<0.001).
However, no statistically significant interaction
effects were found between the position and grip
force factor (p>0.05).
Future studies should examine the functional
range of motion using a larger and more
representative sample.
Functional Range of Motion of the Wrist Joint Under
Varied Grasping Tasks
Jessica Marie DeGroot; Hanna Rae Paul; Ying-Chih Wang, OTR, PhD; Bhagwant Singh Sindhu, OTR, PhD; Arun Garg, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Department of Occupational Science & Technology
For further information
Jessica M. DeGroot
Department of Occupational Science and
Technology, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee,
WI 53201-0413
Tel: (920) 979-0194, Email: jmplasky@uwm.edu
Literature cited
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Cerveri, P., Lopomo, N., Pedotti, A. and Ferrigno, G. (2005). Derivation of
centers and axes of rotation for wrist and fingers in a hand kinematic
model: Methods and reliability results. Ann Biomed Eng 33(3): 402-
412.
Gunal, I., Kose, N., Erdogan, O., Gokturk, E. and Seber, S. (1996).
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Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Age 26 18 36 23.42 4.319
Height_Meter 26 1.57 1.93 1.7389 .10267
Weight_Kg 26 56.70 131.54 74.4763 18.34129
Valid N (listwise) 26
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
Position Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 57.411 1.512 54.283 60.540
2 59.753 1.341 56.979 62.526
3 46.505 1.377 43.656 49.355
Fig. 3 Wrist Extension by Position
Fig. 4 Wrist Extension by Grip Force
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
GripForce Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 55.187 .953 53.216 57.159
2 56.174 1.224 53.642 58.705
3 54.969 1.281 52.318 57.619
4 51.896 1.504 48.784 55.008
Fig. 5 Wrist Flexion by Position
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
Position Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 26.310 1.087 24.055 28.565
2 20.484 1.206 17.983 22.985
3 24.492 1.940 20.468 28.516
Fig. 6 Wrist Flexion by Grip Force
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
GripForce Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 22.134 .801 20.473 23.795
2 25.779 1.589 22.484 29.074
3 24.243 1.505 21.122 27.363
4 22.891 1.404 19.980 25.803
Fig. 9 Wrist Radial Deviation by Position
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
Position Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 26.310 1.087 24.055 28.565
2 20.484 1.206 17.983 22.985
3 24.492 1.940 20.468 28.516
Fig. 10 Wrist Radial Deviation by Grip Force
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
GripForce Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 22.134 .801 20.473 23.795
2 25.779 1.589 22.484 29.074
3 24.243 1.505 21.122 27.363
4 22.891 1.404 19.980 25.803
Fig. 11 Wrist Ulnar Deviation by Position
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
Position Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 23.479 .838 21.732 25.227
2 23.185 1.138 20.810 25.559
3 15.875 1.369 13.020 18.730
Fig. 12 Wrist Ulnar Deviation by Grip Force
Estimates
Measure: MEASURE_1
GripForce Mean Std. Error
95% Confidence Interval
Lower Bound Upper Bound
1 24.472 .846 22.707 26.238
2 20.976 .993 18.904 23.048
3 19.694 1.035 17.535 21.854
4 18.242 1.101 15.945 20.539
Fig. 1 Wrist Extension:
Position x Grip Force
Fig. 2 Wrist Flexion:
Position x Grip Force
Fig. 7 Wrist Radial Deviation:
Position x Grip Force
Fig. 8 Wrist Ulnar Deviation:
Position x Grip Force