Surface Palpation - Elbow, Wrist, and Hand - Joints and Joint Motions
Metacarpophalangeal Joint Motions of the Thumb
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 metacarpal bone with the proximal phalanx of the thumb. Either guide or demonstrate motions and observe as the patient moves through thumb metacarpophalangeal flexion and extension motions. If guided, some people can flex just the metacarpophalangeal joint.
VH ñ MCP thumb flexion and extension