Standing, sitting, or lying supine
Anterior to the hand.
May I touch your hand? (or point to the demonstrated area).
Please bend and straighten your thumb (or demonstrate).
With the patient relaxed, gently place the fingers around the articulation of the proximal phalanx with
the distal phalanx of the thumb. Either guide or demonstrate motions and observe as the patient moves
through thumb interphalangeal flexion and extension motions. If guided, most people can flex just the
interphalangeal joint.
VH ñ IP thumb flexion and extension