The human hand contains more than a dozen muscles on both the front and palm of the hand that enable us to touch our fingers to each other, grasp objects, hold a glass of milk and swing a fist. Some of the most important muscles in the hand allow...
The human hand is a picture of complexity and balance. The muscles that control the hand allow it to be strong and refined. Muscles that influence hand movement either originate on bones outside or inside the hand. Muscles that originate outside...
Grip is an important factor in the game of basketball for professional and amateur players alike. Each possession in basketball should be highly valued, so holding onto a basketball should not be taken lightly.
Your hands and wrists consist of a complex system of muscles, ligaments and joints that work together, enabling you to perform a variety of actions with your hands and fingers. Though the muscles in your hands and wrists are some of the smallest...
The arm supports the hand, which is the main way you manipulate your environment. There are three main bones of the arm: the humerus in the upper arm, and the radius and ulna in the forearm. The shoulder is where the humerus joins the torso; the...
Similar to trigger fingers, de Quervain's is a stenosing tenosynovitis. The tunnel around the tendons becomes tight, or stenosed. As a result, the tendons and tendon covering become inflamed. The pain will be right over the tendons on the thumb...
A sport where you climb natural or artificial rock walls, rock climbing is a physically demanding activity that works your balance, strength, agility and endurance. Recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee and governed by the...
Your forearm muscles move your wrists in four different directions, therefore to strengthen the wrists, you must do exercises that utilize all these movements, not just one or two. Free weights that include barbells, dumbbells and exercise tubing...
There are more than 14 different flexor and extensor muscles in your forearms. These muscles are responsible for moving your wrists toward and away from your body. There are also two muscles responsible for elbow flexion in your forearm. It is...
Plates are free weights used for strength training, including programs for forearm development. Forearm exercises increase the size and strength of your wrists, hands and lower arms. The curl motion refers to bending at the wrist or elbow, like...
The tendons in your forearm are important in day-to-day use as well as during participation in many sports. The tendons in your forearm -- including the extensor pollicis brevis and the extensor pollicis longus -- are responsible for the movement...
The wrist is a very complex joint typically made of eight bones, called carpals. These form the junction between the bones of the forearm and hand. In addition to these carpal bones, tough fibrous bands surround the wrist and a tremendous number...
Repetitive stress injuries are common occurrences affecting various body parts. The thumb is particularly susceptible since the fingers are used for almost every daily task. The thumb is designed to perform complex mechanical motions, but when...
The wrist is a junction of multiple bones, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and nerves. As such, the causes of wrist pain are numerous, but can be classified into 3 broad categories--mechanical, neurological and systemic. Regardless of the cause...
With few muscles in the hand, the majority of the movement of the fingers originates in the muscles of the wrist and forearm. These muscles act on ligaments and tendons in the hand to extend, or lift, the fingers. As it is often the case that many...
The flexor tendons run from the elbow to the fingers and allow the hand to perform its many functions. Doctors and hand therapists designate five "zones" of the flexor tendons depending on their location in the hand and forearm. Zone 5 flexor...
Working with dumbbells, which are free weights attached to tubular handles, is an effective way to build muscle mass and strength via resistance. Doing a dumbbell curl involves lifting the weight with your hand by bending your elbow. Dumbbell...
Tendinitis by definition is inflammation, and any activity that requires a repetitive motion especially in sports that can require great amounts of force generated by these movements put the patient at risk for inflammation. By not treating the...
The wrist comprises many bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, tendons and blood vessels. The "outer side" of the wrist is the thumb or radial side, and mainly constitutes the radius bone, the scaphoid and lunate carpal bones, the first metacarpal...
Your body depends on a large network of muscle tissue to allow you to walk, jump, lift objects and move in general. Although each muscle has its own unique purpose, certain muscle groups provide a more integral role in the overall workings of the...
The muscles of your hands enable you to perform fine and gross motor skills; some originate on your forearm. Feel the muscle right under the base of your thumb; it is you flexor pollicis brevis. Feel the muscles under the base of your pinky; they...
Some people think golf is a leisurely activity, but it offers a great all-around body workout. A properly, or even improperly, performed golf swing works muscles in the upper and lower body. Golfers should know the basic muscle groups engaged...
Rope climbing is a common conditioning exercise in the military. In addition to being an effective strengthening exercise, climbing ropes also develops confidence for working at heights and is an essential skill for scaling cliffs and climbing...
The small muscles of your hand can become tight and inflamed due to overuse or injury. Exessive keyboard typing, knitting or other activities that require fine motor control of the fingers can result in pain. To minimize this, occupational therapy...
Pullups are a compound exercise, involving many muscles in your arms, shoulders and upper back, according to Bodybuilding.com. Pullups use pulling as the force and your body weight as the resistance. It works different sets of muscles as you pull...
Your arm and leg muscles allow you to flex and extend, as well as pull in toward or away from the body. Adduction is the movement that pulls the arms or legs inward toward the center of the body. Muscles that help perform this action are called...
Curls, which is the shortened term for bicep curls, are a common weight training exercise used to develop muscles in the upper limbs. Curling can be completed with dumbbells, a barbell, on a pulley unit or on a machine. To perform the curl, hold...
The deadlift is a full body exercise. Though mainly used to help strengthen the back and legs, the deadlift does have an impact on the arm muscles. Proper technique and grip can help you get the most out of your training. To gain strength, do...
While some climbers prefer steep outdoor crags with tough-to-negotiate overhangs, other climbers prefer the relative safety of indoor climbing. Whichever type of climbing you prefer, the muscles used are very similar. Climbing is a whole-body...