HAND
FUNCTIONS
INTRODUCTION
• The human hand is a highly specialized and versatile organ that
plays a crucial role in daily living, communication, and
occupational activities. It enables a wide range of fine and
gross motor tasks through complex coordination of bones,
joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves
• The primary functions of the hand include grasping,
manipulating objects, sensory perception, and expressing non-
verbal communication.
These functions rely on the integrity of both anatomical
structures and neuromuscular control to perform precise and
purposeful movements.
• Hand function is typically categorized based on the types of
activities the hand performs, reflecting its role in both basic and
Classification
• The hand functions are divided into
Reach
Release
Grasp
Prehension
Non prehension
In-hand manipulation
1-Reach:
• Reach is the act of extending arm away from the body
to manipulate or interact with each other
• It involves coordinated movements of the shoulder,
elbow , forearm and hand
• Reach is essential for
eating
dressing
hygiene
work or play tasks
Types
a. Forward
b. Backward
c. Side ways
d. Midline crossing
e. Above head
f. Below knee
Forward reach :
forward reach is the ability to extend the arm in front of
the body within the base of support usually in horizontal
direction ,to contact or manipulate objects
Key components
• trunk stability
• shoulder flexion
• elbow extension
• visual –motor coordination
Backward reach :
it involves extension of the shoulder and elbow to place hand
behind the body , often requiring trunk rotation or extension for
functional access
Key components
• Shoulder extension
• Elbow extension
• Trunk rotation or extension
Sideway reach :
lateral or sideline reach is defined as the ability to extend the
arm sideways away from the body’s midline to reach
objects ,often require weight shift and balance control
Key components
• Shoulder abduction
• Trunk lateral rotation
• Elbow extension
• Postural adjustments
Midline crossing :
ability to reach across the center of the body with the arms of
the body with the arms or legs to perform a task on the opposite
side
Key components
• Trunk rotation
• Shoulder horizontal abduction
• Elbow flexion/extension
• Proprioception and visual motor coordination
Above head:
it involves evaluation of the upper limb above , shoulder weight,
requiring coordinated movement at the shoulder , scapula, elbow
and trunk
Key components
• Shoulder flexion or abduction
• Elbow extension
• Trunk extension
• Neck movements – may assist in visual guidance
Below knee :
Reaching below the knee requires trunk flexion , controlled
lowering of the center of gravity , often accompanied by the knee
and hip flexion to access items positioned low or on the floor
Key components
• Trunk flexion
• Hip and knee flexion
• Shoulder and elbow extension
• Balance and postural control
2- Release:
release is the voluntary letting go of a held object at a specific
time and place and is a vital part of functional hand use
Key components
• Finger extension
• Thumb opposition
• Wrist stabilization
• Proprioceptive training
• Motor planning
Types
a. Voluntary release
b. Involuntary release
Voluntary release :
voluntary release is the intentional letting go of an object at a
specific time and place , requiring active finger extension and
motor control
Key components
• active finger and thumb extension
• Wrist stabilization
• Motor planning and control
Types
• Simple release :
letting go of an object in a general non precise manner
• Controlled release
releasing object with precision and control overtime and
force
• Sequential release
releasing fingers one by one in a coordinated sequence,
useful for delicate task
• Bilateral release
coordinated release involving both hands often passing or
transferring objects
• Timed release
releasing an object at precise movement in response to
external cues or task demands
Involuntary release
involuntary release is the un intended dropping or loss of
grasp on an object , typically due to poor motor control ,
weakness , spasticity or neurological impairments
3-grasp :
action of closing the hand around an object to secure it for
manipulation or use
Types
• Cylindrical grasp
• Spherical grasp
• Hook grasp
• Cylindrical grasp
the most common static grasp pattern used to stabilize
object against the palm and fingers , with the thumb acting as
an opposite force
• Spherical grasp
o also called as ball grasp , this pattern assumed for holding
around an object such as a ball or an apple
o it differs from cylindrical grasp primarily in positioning of the
4th and 5th digits
o Two ulnar metacarpals are held in greater flexion (cylindrical)
• Hook grasp
o only prehension pattern that doesn't include the thumb to
supply opposition
o MP held in extension and DIP& PIP held in flexion
4-Prehension
Prehension is the action of reaching for and grasping
objects ,involving complex coordination of the
fingers ,thumb ,wrist to secure or manipulate object
Types
a. Lateral prehension
b. Palmar prehension
• Lateral prehension
the pad of the thumb is positioned to contact the radial side of
the middle or distal phalanx of the index finger
• Palmar prehension
The thumb positioned to opposition to the index and long fingers
• Tip prehension
the IP joint of the thumb and the DIP and PIP joint of the fingers
are flexed to facilitate tip-tip prehension
• Pad to pad
this involves opposition of the pad, or pulp, of the thumb
4-non prehension
non prehensile movements are hand or upper limb movements
that do not involve grasping or holding objects
a. Pushing
b. Tapping
c. Clapping
• Pushing:
moving an object with the palm or back of the hand
• Tapping
touching an object without holding them
• Clapping
is an action where the palm of the both hands brought together
to make sound
4-In hand manipulation :
In hand manipulation involves the ability to move objects within the
hand for precise positioning , using coordinated movement of the
fingers and thumb
• Types
a. Translation
b. Rotation
Translation
moving objects between the fingers and thumb
1. Finger to palm
2. Palm to finger
• Finger to palm
moving object from fingertips to the palm
• Palm to fingers
moving object from palm to the fingers
Shifting
linear movements of an object across the finger pads
Rotation
Turning or spinning object around one or more of it axes with
fingers
• Types
a. Simple rotation
b. Complex rotation
• Simple rotation
rotation of an object less than 90 degree
• Complex rotation
rotation of an object more than 90 degree