Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2025

Spring 2025 • 43

Wrist Joint Ligaments Name

Location

Function

Palmar radiocarpal ligament

Spans from the palmar distal aspect of the radius to the scaphoid, lunate and capitate bones.

Limits hyperextension of the wrist joint.

Limits hyperflexion of the wrist joint and to make sure the hand moves along with the forearm during pronation and supination of the radioulnar joints. Limits too much abduction of the wrist and stabilizes triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist.

Spans from the posterior aspect of the distal radius to the dorsal surfaces of the triquetrum and lunate bones.

Dorsal radiocarpal ligaments

Spans between the styloid process of the ulna to the pisiform, triquetrum, and the flexor retinaculum.

Ulnar collateral ligament (wrist)

Radial collateral ligament (wrist)

Spans between the styloid process of the radius to the scaphoid bone.

Limits too much adduction of the wrist.

AMTA Continuing Education

radius, articulating with the radial notch of the ulna. The DRUJ is just proximal to the wrist joint, and the articulation is between the ulnar notch of the radius and the head of the ulna. 14 Wrist Joint The wrist joint, also known as the radiocarpal joint, is a complex joint located between the radius and ulna of the forearm and the carpal bones of the hand. It is an ellipsoid joint, allowing for flexion, extension, abduction and adduction. 15,16

move joints, maintain posture and provide stability. It is composed of individual muscle fibers that are under our voluntary control and can run as long as the length of an entire muscle. Skeletal muscle is able to perform three distinct types of contractions: isometric contraction, isotonic concentric contraction and isotonic eccentric contraction. • Isometric contraction is where the muscle contracts without shortening or lengthening. • Isotonic concentric contraction contracts and shortens the muscle. • Isotonic eccentric contraction contracts but also lengthens the muscle. This type of contraction typically fatigues the muscle quicker and is more common during a muscle strain. The fiber composition of our skeletal muscles is divided into two types and each play different roles in physical activities. Commonly known as fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers, they differ in their construction, purpose and how they utilize energy, which in turn dictates their performance capabilities. • Slow-twitch muscle fibers are also known as type-1 muscle fibers. Slow-twitch muscle fibers are categorized by their smaller size. They have a higher content of myoglobin, which is a red pigmented protein that binds to oxygen, similar to hemoglobin in the red blood cells.

Range of motion

Joint

Movement

Flexion

0-90º 0-70° 0-45º 0-15º

Extension Adduction Abduction

Wrist

Types of Muscle Tissue Skeletal muscle is one of three types of muscle tissue. The other two consist of cardiac muscle and smooth muscle. • Cardiac muscle tissue , as its name implies, is found only in the heart. • Smooth muscle tissue is found in places such as the intestines, pupils, skin and blood vessels. • Skeletal muscle tissue is what we rely on to

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