Manual Muscle Testing of the Wrist

Wrist Abduction	The patient sits with forearm in neutral (thumb side up) with hand hanging off table.  The therapist stabilizes the forearm against the table with one hand and uses the other hand to apply downward resistance toward wrist adduction. The patient actively abducts the wrist.
Wrist Adduction	The patient lies prone with forearm and wrist in neutral (thumb side down). The test arm should slightly hang off the edge of the table. The therapist stabilizes the forearm against the table with one hand and uses other hand to apply downward resistance toward wrist abduction. The patient actively adducts the wrist.
Wrist Flexion	The patient sits with forearm in supination and wrist in neutral. The therapist stabilizes the patient's forearm against table with one hand and the other hand grasps the patient's hand in a handshake position. Resistance is given on the palmar surface of the hand in the direction of extension. The patient actively flexes the wrist.
Wrist Extension	The patient sits with forearm in pronation and wrist in neutral. The therapist stabilizes the patient's forearm against table with one hand and the other hand is placed on the dorsal aspect of the patient's hand . Resistance is given on the dorsal surface of the hand in the direction of flexion. The patient actively extends the wrist.

Adapted from:

Hislop, Helen J. & Montgomery, Jaqueline with contributor Barbara Connelly.

      Daniels and Worthingham's muscle testing: techniques of manual examination., 6th edition, 1995.