The Effects of Complex Wrist and Forearm Posture on Wrist Range of Motion

In order to minimize the risk of repetitive trauma injuries, postures or motions that place joints near the limits of their range of motion (RoM) should be avoided. Before it can be determined that a posture or motion approaches the limit of a joint's motion, these limits need to be established. Previous research on wrist functionality has focused almost entirely on RoM in two or three isolated planes (flexion/extension, radial/ulnar deviation, and forearm pronation/supination), without investigating potential effects of complex wrist/forearm posture on RoM. Since most practical applications of this wrist motion data involve more than these isolated planar deviations, the effects of complex wrist/forearm posture on wrist functionality need to be understood.