Testing joints of the upper limb and their movements

Question 1

What are the movements of the scapulothoracic joint?

Answer 1

Protraction (“hug themself”)

Retraction (put arms together behind)

Elevation (shrug shoulders up)

Depression (shrug shoulders down)

Question 2

What are the movements of the shoulder joint?

Answer 2

Flexion (lift arm forwards from by sides)

Extension (move arm backwards from by sides)

Abduction (hold arm out straight, move arm upwards towards head)

Adduction (hold arm out straight, move arm downwards towards waist)

Circumduction (hold arms out straight, move arm as if to draw circles)

Question 3

What are the movements of the elbow joint?

Answer 3

Flexion (move arm upwards from straight to bent arm)

Extension (move arm from bent to straight)

Question 4

What are the movements of the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints?

Answer 4

Pronation (rotate palm 180 degrees so it faces posterior)

Supination (rotate palm back to anatomical position)

Question 5

What are the movements of the wrist joint?

Answer 5

Flexion (bend wrist so hand sloped downwards)

Extension (bend wrist so hand sloped upwards)

Ulnar deviation (horizontal movement towards ulna)

Radial deviation (horizontal movement towards radius)

Question 6

Demonstrate movements at the carpo-metacarpal joints of thumb and other digits.

Answer 6

Flexion of thumb inwards to palm

Extensoin of thumb away from palm

Opposition: thumb meeting little finger

Adduction: bringing thumb in contact with 2nd finger

Abduction: moving thumb away from 2nd finger

Question 7

Demonstrate movements of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.

Answer 7

Flexion: bringing fingers to palm

Extension: moving fingers back, away from palm

Adduction: bringing fingers together (side by side)

Abduction: spreading fingers apart