The University of West Alabama





Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

Range of Motion for the Wrist Joint

Motion

Examiner Position

Model Position

Examiner Instruction

Hand Placement

Muscles Involved

Possible Substitutions

Things to Note

Flexion

test side of patient sitting with arm resting on the table, forearm in supination, wrist neutral or slightly extended Passive ROM
have patient relax and the examiner causes the motion


 Active ROM
examiner should demonstrate motion and then have examiner complete motion


Resistive ROM

Patient should resist examiner's overpressure in extension and/or examiner should resist patient as they move through flexion

Passive ROM  Stabilize forearm against the table by grasping distal forearm near the wrist. Place other hand over the dorsal aspect hand. Candidate applies overpressure throughout the full ROM into wrist flexion.

Active ROM Patient does the motion

Resistive ROM  Place other hand over palmer aspect of the hand in wrist flexion. While in wrist flexion patient should resist examiner's overpressure into wrist extension

Flexor carpi radialis and Flexor carpi ulnaris     
Extension test side of patient sitting with arm resting on the table, and forearm in full pronation  Passive ROM
have patient relax and the examiner causes the motion


 Active ROM
examiner should demonstrate motion and then have examiner complete motion


Resistive ROM

Patient should resist examiner's overpressure in extension and/or examiner should resist patient as they move through flexion

Passive ROM Stabilize forearm against the table by grasping distal forearm near the wrist. Place other hand over the palmer aspect aspect of the hand. Apply overpressure throughout the full ROM  into wrist flexion. 

Active ROM Patient does the motion.

Resistive ROM  Instruct model to maintain wrist extension against the candidates applied resistance in to wrist flexion.

Extensor carpi radialis longus, Extensor carpi radialis brevis, and Extensor carpi ulnaris    
Radial Deviation / Wrist Abduction test side of the patient  sitting with arm resting on the table, and forearm in supination Passive ROM
have patient relax and the examiner causes the motion


 Active ROM
examiner should demonstrate motion and then have examiner complete motion


Resistive ROM

Patient should resist examiner's overpressure in extension and/or examiner should resist patient as they move through flexion

Passive ROM Stablize Forearm against the table by grasping distal forearm near the wrist. Place other hand over the palmer aspect of the hand. Apply overpressure throughout the full ROM into wrist abduction.

Active ROM  Patient does the motion

Resistive ROM Instruct model to maintain wrist extension against the candidates applied resistance into wrist flexion. Stablize forearm against the table. Place other hand on the model's hand dependent on placement on the placement of the forearm. Apply resistance throughout the full ROM into wrist abduction\radial deviation.

     
Ulnar Deviation / Wrist Adduction test side of the patient Place model sitting with arm resting on the table , and hand and wrist hanging off of the edge of the table. Passive ROM
have patient relax and the examiner causes the motion


 Active ROM
examiner should demonstrate motion and then have examiner complete motion


Resistive ROM

Patient should resist examiner's overpressure in extension and/or examiner should resist patient as they move through flexion

Passive ROM Stabilize forearm against the table by grasping distal forearm near the wrist. Place other hand over the palmer aspect of the hand. Candidate applied overpressure throughout the full ROM into wrist adduction

Active ROM Patient does the motion.

Resistive ROM Instruct model to maintain wrist adduction against the candidates applied into wrist abduction. Place other hand on the model's hand dependent on placement of the forearm