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Finger Adduction Exercise (Palmar Interossei)

Draftstrength75%beginner⬤ limited evidence
View FHIR resourceFHIR R4 ActivityDefinition — the interoperable form of this exercise

Positions & Range of Motion

Start
seated with the hand resting and fingers extended straight, a folded paper placed between two adjacent fingers
End
fingers pinched toward the middle finger to clamp the paper, held ~5 s before release
Range of Motion
finger adduction — small MCP adduction excursion to closed-gap, then isometric hold

How to Perform

Strengthening palmar interossei for finger adduction. Rubber band resistance significantly increases ulnar nerve-innervated intrinsic muscle activation while minimizing extrinsic activation. Finger adduction strength is highly affected in ulnar nerve injuries (75-76% reduction).

Watch on YouTube↗

Opens a YouTube search for “Finger Adduction Exercise (Palmar Interossei)”

Starting position: seated

Coaching Cues

  1. 1

    Straight fingers — palmar interossei pinch toward the middle finger

    (verbal)
  2. 2

    Squeeze a folded paper between two adjacent fingers

    (verbal)
  3. 3

    Hold five seconds before letting the paper drop

    (verbal)
  4. 4

    Free hand tugs the paper to test the squeeze

    (tactile)

Evidence-Based Dosing & EMG Data

Recommended Dosing

3×15 reps, 2-3x daily. Brief isometric contractions preferred for partially denervated muscle [Herbison 1983]

EMG Activation Data

Rubber band resistance: significantly increases intrinsic activation, minimizes extrinsic [Boudreau 2022]. Ulnar nerve injury: 75-76% pinch-to-zoom reduction [Bertelli 2020]

Muscles Involved (3)

Primary Movers

Palmar Interossei— Primary finger adductors — ulnar nerve innervated [Boudreau 2022]

Stabilizers

Flexor Digitorum Profundus— MCP stability during adduction

Lengthened / Stretched

Dorsal Interossei (Hand)— AUDIT: Palmar-interossei-driven MCP adduction lengthens the dorsal interossei (finger abductors) as the direct frontal-plane antagonist.

Easier Variations ↓

1

Isometric Hold Only

Press fingers together without resistance. Build motor control first.

Harder Variations ↑

1

Card Hold with Pull

Hold paper between fingers while someone gently tries to pull it out.

Target Movements (1)

Finger Adduction (MCP)Metacarpophalangeal Joints

Why This Exercise Matters

Everyday activities this exercise helps you do — essential means it directly trains the capacity the task needs:

Gripping a CupTyping

Goals This Helps With

Rehab, performance, prevention, and mobility goals this exercise supports — essential means it's a cornerstone:

Improve Grip Strengthperformance

Research Notes

AUDIT[medium]: Dosing prescribes '3×15 reps, 2-3x daily' (up to ~45 contractions x3/day) while the same field cites 'Brief isometric contractions preferred for partially denervated muscle [Herbison 1983]' — a high-volume dynamic prescription contradicts the cited overwork-weakness caution for denervated/reinnervating muscle. → For partially denervated presentations, reduce volume and specify brief submaximal isometrics per Herbison 1983 rather than 3×15 x2-3 daily. AUDIT[low]: emgNotes reads '75-76% pinch-to-zoom reduction [Bertelli 2020]' — 'pinch-to-zoom' is a corrupted/nonsensical phrase for a clinical strength claim. → Correct to 'pinch strength reduction' (or 'finger adduction strength reduction') consistent with the description.

Evidence Sources (2)