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Related Concept Videos

Muscles that Move the Forearm01:16

Muscles that Move the Forearm

The muscles that move the forearms can be divided into four groups: forearm flexors, forearm extensors, forearm pronators, and forearm supinators. The flexors and extensors act on the elbow joint, while the pronators and supinators act on the radioulnar joints.
Forearm Flexors
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The muscles of the forearm that move the wrist, hand, and digits are numerous and diverse. They can be classified into two groups based on their location and function — the anterior and posterior compartment muscles.
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Spinal Nerves: Plexus I

Nerve plexuses are networks of interlacing nerves that serve as communication hubs to distribute and organize nerve action across various body regions. The nerve plexuses are organized into the cervical plexus located in the neck region, brachial plexus in the shoulder area, lumbar plexus found in the lower back, sacral plexus situated in the pelvis, and coccygeal plexus located in the coccygeal region.
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Muscle Coordination and Action01:24

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Muscle coordination is a complex and finely tuned process essential for smooth and purposeful movements like flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and rotation. The human body orchestrates the actions of various muscles working in concert, each with a specific role. Four functional types describe how muscles work together: agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator.
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The ulna and radius are parallel bones of the antebrachium or the forearm. The ulna lies medially and consists of a bony tip called the olecranon process at its proximal end. This hook-like projection articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus and forms the "hinged" ulnohumeral part of the elbow joint. This joint facilitates forearm extension and flexion while preventing its hyperextension. Similarly, the coronoid process, another bony projection on the proximal/anterior side of the...
Muscles that Move the Arm01:31

Muscles that Move the Arm

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip
09:36

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

Published on: June 4, 2020

Forearm posture and grip effects during push and pull tasks.

Jennifer Di Domizio1, Peter J Keir

  • 1School of Kinesiology & Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Ergonomics
|March 2, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gripping tasks increase forearm muscle activity, especially in pronated postures. Coupling grip with push/pull actions can reduce muscle loading, offering workplace injury prevention strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Occupational Health
  • Human Factors Engineering

Background:

  • Muscle activity in the upper extremity is influenced by loading direction and task complexity.
  • Understanding forearm muscle engagement during gripping and force application is crucial for preventing musculoskeletal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of forearm posture on muscle activity and applied force during pushing and pulling tasks combined with gripping.
  • To identify strategies for minimizing forearm muscle loading in occupational settings.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve participants performed five hand-based tasks (grip alone, push/pull with/without grip) in supinated, neutral, and pronated forearm postures.
  • Recorded surface electromyography (EMG) from eight upper extremity muscles, hand grip force, tri-axial push/pull forces, and wrist angles.
  • Analyzed muscle activity and force variations across different forearm postures and task combinations.

Main Results:

  • Pulling force combined with grip significantly elevated activity in all forearm muscles (p < 0.017).
  • Pushing tasks with grip increased forearm extensor activity while decreasing flexor activity compared to grip alone.
  • Pronated forearm postures generally showed higher forearm extensor muscle activity during grip and combined tasks (p < 0.017).
  • When push/pull forces assisted grip, overall forearm muscle activity decreased.

Conclusions:

  • Forearm posture significantly affects muscle loading during gripping and force application tasks.
  • Integrating grip with push or pull actions, particularly when forces assist grip, can reduce forearm muscle stress.
  • Workplace tools and task designs should consider these biomechanical principles to mitigate the risk of forearm injuries.