extension of the wrist

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Definition - What does extension of the wrist mean?

Extension of the wrist refers to bending or stretching the wrist in a backward motion using extensor muscles in the forearm. The wrist is a joint consisting of eight metacarpal bones articulating the radius and ulna to the hand, which is surrounded by a tough, fibrous connective tissue called ligaments that gives the wrist its flexibility. Extension of the wrist is one of the movements that can put a worker at risk for injury when done under load, awkwardly, or repetitively.

SureHire explains extension of the wrist

Extension of the wrist refers to lifting the hand backwards from a neutral position by voluntarily contracting the muscles in the forearm increasing the angle from its corresponding position of flexion with a range of motion between sixty and seventy-five degrees. The wrist is a joint containing eight metacarpal bones articulating the radius and ulna with the hand bound together by ligaments to sustain flexibility and strength for general usage. Strengthening and conditioning the joint and muscles through wrist extension exercises an help in reducing injuries like fractures, sprains, or tendonitis limiting functionality on a permanent basis. Good ergonomic job design and training is also vital to avoid injury for workers whose jobs require frequent wrist extension, particularly under load.

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