In-vivo function of the thumb muscles

Objective. The purpose of this study is to quantify the electrical activity of the thumb muscles responsible for the production of force in different directions of thumb movement. Design. The isometric forces and electromyographic activity generated by se ven thumb muscles were measured on five normal healthy test subjects. Background. The thumb is very important for proper hand function. Presently available electromyographic studies of the thumb muscles provide only limi ted information. Most thumb muscles have more than one function. Additional studies are required to carefully examine and confirm the in-vivo relation ship between the thumb muscle electromyogram and mechanical output. Methods. The direction and magnitude of the force vector generated at the i nterphalangeal joint and the relative electrical activity were obtained for eight directions of thumb action. The regions of function were defined for the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, a dductor pollicis, flexor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus, and the abductor pollicis longus. Data was collected during voluntary isometric co ntraction, both before and after blocking the median nerve at the wrist. Results. The highest force production was obtained during flexion. The regi on of maximal muscle electrical activity varied for each muscle studied. Th e areas of maximal in-vivo muscle activity agreed with the moment arm data reported in the literature. The median nerve block eliminated the ability t o produce force in abduction. Conclusions. This study has demonstrated that by combining electromyographi c measurement and biomechanical analysis it is possible to confirm the rela tionship between in-vivo thumb muscle function and muscle mechanics in a no vel manner. The findings of this study indicate the importance of the local anatomy in controlling the direction of force production.