Logan Steele
Grip strength is the force applied by the hand to pull on or suspend from objects. It is a specific part of hand strength that involves the action of a large number of different joints and muscle groups. The muscles involved in grip strength are mainly in the forearm and wrist, with 20 muscles in the forearm and 9 muscles in the hand. These muscles include the flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, extensor digitorum communis, and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis. Grip strength is important not just for athletes and climbers but also for anyone aiming to enhance hand strength and dexterity. It is also used as a diagnostic tool in medicine to test a patient's mentality, physical stability, and degree of rehabilitation from injuries.
Characteristics of Grip Strength
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The force applied by the hand to pull on or suspend from objects |
| Measurement | Handheld dynamometer |
| Muscles Involved | Forearm, fingers, hands, upper arms |
| Muscle Groups | Flexors, extensors |
| Muscle Examples | Flexor digitorum profundis (FDP), flexor pollicis longus (FPL), extensor digitorum communis (EDC), extensor digitorum, extensor indicis, pronator quadratus, lumbrical muscles |
| Training | Hammer curl, weight-based machine, high-resistance rubber bands, reverse wrist curls, dumbbells |
| Uses | Rock climbing, strongman competitions, weight lifting, day-to-day tasks (opening jars, carrying groceries), rehabilitation, health indicator |
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What You'll Learn
Flexor digitorum profundus
The flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) is a muscle in the forearm that is responsible for flexing the fingers. It is an extrinsic hand muscle, with its muscle belly located in the forearm. It is the most powerful and bulky muscle of the forearm, forming the muscular elevation seen and felt on the posterior surface of the forearm medial to the subcutaneous posterior border of the ulna.
FDP is considered an essential element for achieving a powerful grip. It acts as the main gripping power of the hand because its tendons arise at or below the wrist joint. FDP is the sole flexor of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of the 2nd to 5th digits. It also acts as a flexor of the midcarpal (wrist), metacarpophalangeal, and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the index, middle, ring, and little fingers, along with the flexor digitorum superficialis.
The muscle originates from four sites: the superior three-quarters of the anterior surface of the ulna, the adjacent part of the interosseous membrane, the coronoid process of the ulna, and the aponeurosis of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. From this origin, the muscle travels towards the hand, giving off a broad tendon at the distal third of the forearm. This tendon crosses the superficial surface of the pronator quadratus and enters the hand by passing beneath the flexor retinaculum.
Upon entering the hand, the tendon of the FDP splits into four slips that attach to the palmar surfaces of the bases of the distal phalanges of digits 2-5. The medial part of the muscle inserts into digits 4 and 5, while the lateral part inserts into digits 2 and 3. The medial aspect of the muscle (flexing the 4th and 5th digits) is supplied by the ulnar nerve, while the lateral aspect (flexing the 2nd and 3rd digits) is supplied by the median nerve, specifically the anterior interosseous branch.
FDP aids in fully extending the fingers at the interphalangeal joints and flexing the fingers at the metacarpophalangeal joints. The tension generated by FDP at the more distal joints is determined by wrist position. FDP acts best when the wrist is extended, and flexion of the wrist causes muscle shortening, reducing the tension that can be generated more distally.
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Flexor pollicis longus
The flexor pollicis longus is a muscle in the forearm and hand that flexes the thumb. It is a long muscle, situated in the deep layer of the anterior compartment of the forearm, alongside the flexor digitorum profundus and pronator quadratus. It is unique to humans, being either rudimentary or absent in other primates.
The main function of the flexor pollicis longus is flexion of the thumb at the interphalangeal joint, which is a movement essential for gripping. When the thumb is fixed, it assists in flexing the wrist.
The flexor pollicis longus receives nervous supply from the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve, derived from spinal roots C7 and C8. It receives dual blood supply, with its medial part supplied by the anterior interosseous artery (a branch of the ulnar artery) and its lateral part receiving blood from the radial artery.
An occasionally present accessory long head of the flexor pollicis longus is called 'Gantzer's muscle'. It may cause compression of the anterior interosseous nerve.
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Extensor digitorum communis
The extensor digitorum communis, or extensor digitorum, is a muscle of the posterior forearm. It is the most superficial muscle in this part of the forearm, located above the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis longus muscles. These three muscles enclose a tunnel through which the posterior interosseous artery and nerve pass. The extensor digitorum muscle arises from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, by the common tendon, and from the intermuscular septa between it and the adjacent muscles. It is innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve, a branch of the radial nerve.
The extensor digitorum extends the phalanges, the wrist, and the elbow. In the fingers, it acts on the proximal phalanges, extending the metacarpophalangeal joint. Extension of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints is mediated predominantly by the dorsal and palmar interossei and lumbricals of the hand. The extensor digitorum acts to separate the fingers as it extends them.
The extensor digitorum divides into four tendons, which pass through a separate compartment of the dorsal carpal ligament, within a mucous sheath. The tendons then diverge on the back of the hand and are inserted into the middle and distal phalanges of the fingers. On the back of the hand, the tendons to the middle, ring, and little fingers are connected by two obliquely placed bands. The extensor tendons are connected to the second tendon by a thin transverse band, known as the juncturae tendinum, which serves to maintain the central alignment of the tendons.
The extensor digitorum contributes to grip force, along with the flexor digitorum profundis and flexor pollicis longus. These muscles couple wrist action and grip force in prehensile tasks.
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Forearm muscles
The forearm stretches from the elbow to the wrist and contains 20 muscles, which are divided into two main compartments: the anterior and posterior compartments. The muscles in the forearm are primarily responsible for flexion in the fingers and wrist.
The superficial layer of the anterior compartment contains four muscles: Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, which facilitates wrist flexion and abduction; Palmaris Longus, which facilitates wrist flexion; Flexor Carpi Radialis, which facilitates wrist flexion; and Palmaris Brevis, which originates at the transverse carpal ligament and inserts at the skin of the ulnar border of the hand.
The intermediate layer of the anterior compartment contains two muscles: flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus. The latter is an essential element for grip strength, as it allows for flexion of the wrist joint and metacarpophalangeal. The deep layer of the anterior compartment contains four muscles: pronator quadratus, which is responsible for pronation and stabilisation of the forearm; flexor pollicis longus, which runs along the forearm and controls thumb movement and flexion, playing a crucial role in the pinch grip; flexor pollicis brevis, which flexes the first metacarpophalangeal joint; and lumbrical muscles, which cause metacarpophalangeal joint flexion and extension of the interphalangeal joints.
The posterior compartment contains muscles that assist in wrist stabilisation, ensuring the wrist remains firm during gripping tasks. These include the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and the brachioradialis, which plays a secondary role in grip by stabilising the forearm and wrist.
Developing forearm muscle strength is important for athletes, climbers, and anyone seeking to enhance hand strength and dexterity. Exercises such as hammer curls and farmers walks can help build forearm muscles and improve grip strength.
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Thumb and finger muscles
The thumb and fingers are essential for gripping and performing various tasks. Several muscles in the hand and forearm collaborate to create the gripping motion. The forearm, which stretches from the elbow to the wrist, contains 20 muscles that are separated into two main compartments. The anterior compartment muscles are mainly used to produce flexion in the fingers and wrist. The superficial layer of the anterior compartment contains the following four muscles:
- Flexor Carpi Ulnaris - Wrist flexion and abduction
- Palmaris Longus - Wrist flexion
- Flexor Carpi Radialis - Wrist flexion
- Palmaris Brevis - Originates at the transverse carpal ligament (carpal tunnel) and inserts at the skin of the ulnar border of the hand
The muscles in the forearm that are responsible for finger flexion are the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus. These muscles allow you to curl your fingers into your palm, which is crucial for forming a crush grip. The flexor pollicis longus, which runs along the forearm, controls the movement of the thumb and plays a vital role in thumb flexion and the pinch grip. Thumb extension and abduction occur due to the extensor and abductor pollicis longus, and extensor and abductor pollicis brevis. Opposition occurs due to opponens pollicis, while adduction is performed by the adductor pollicis.
The intrinsic muscles of the hand do not directly affect wrist action but can contribute to grip force via the extensor mechanism. The extrinsic digit muscles naturally couple wrist action and grip force in prehensile tasks. The flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) contribute to wrist flexion and grip force production, while the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) contributes to wrist extension. The extensor digitorum is also responsible for extending the fingers and balancing the flexors during gripping actions, ensuring the fingers can effectively curl and grip.
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Frequently asked questions
Grip strength is the force applied by the hand to pull on or suspend from objects. It is a measure of muscular strength or the maximum force/tension generated by one’s forearm muscles.
The muscles that contribute to grip strength are the muscles in your fingers, hands, forearms, and upper arms. The forearm stretches from the elbow to the wrist and contains 20 muscles. Some of the muscles in the forearm that contribute to grip strength include flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, and extensor digitorum communis.
You can improve your grip strength by training the extensor muscles in your hands and forearms. Some exercises that can help improve grip strength include the hammer curl, using a weight-based machine, and wrist extension exercises.
