Bone and Joint Institute
Wrist rotations about one or two axes affect maximum wrist strength
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Journal
Applied Ergonomics
Volume
53
First Page
152
Last Page
160
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.apergo.2015.09.005
Abstract
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society. Most wrist strength studies evaluate strength about one axis, and postural deviations about that same axis. The purpose of this study was to determine if wrist posture deviations about one axis (e.g. flexion/extension), or two axes (e.g. flexion/extension and pronation/supination), affect the strength about another axis (e.g. ulnar deviation). A custom-built instrumented handle was used to measure maximum static isometric torque exertions at 18 wrist postures (combinations of flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation, and pronation/supination). Ulnar deviation torques were highest when the wrist was in neutral. This pattern was not maintained for the other torque directions; the generated torque tended to be highest when the wrist posture was not neutral. The effects were similar for male and female subjects, although male subjects exerted significantly larger torques in all directions. This study illustrates that there is a complex relationship between wrist posture and maximal wrist torques.
