title: Subject-specific thumb muscle activity during functional tasks of daily life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The trapeziometacarpal joint is subjected to high compressive forces during powerful pinch and grasp tasks due to muscle loading. In addition, muscle contraction is important for stability of the joint. The aim of the present study is to explore if different muscle activation patterns can be found between three functional tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isometric forces and fine-wire electromyographic (fEMG) activity produced by three intrinsic and four extrinsic thumb muscles were measured in 10 healthy female volunteers. The participants performed isometric contractions in a lateral key pinch, a power grasp and a jar twist task. The tasks were executed with and without EMG recording to verify if electrode placement influenced force production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A subject-specific muscle recruitment was found which remained largely unchanged across tasks. Extrinsic thumb muscles were significantly more active than intrinsic muscles in all tasks. Insertion of the fEMG electrodes decreased force production significantly in all tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thumb muscles display a high variability in muscle activity during functional tasks of daily life. The results of this study suggest that to produce a substantial amount of force, a well-integrated, but subject-specific, co-contraction between the intrinsic and extrinsic thumb muscles is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Jan Palfijn Anatomy Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Faes.Kerkhof@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Faes D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Kerkhof
authors.affiliation: Jan Palfijn Anatomy Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deleu
authors.affiliation: Jan Palfijn Anatomy Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: Jan Palfijn Anatomy Lab, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evie E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Vereecke
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013933:Thumb / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EMG; Fine-wire; Intramuscular; Osteoarthritis; Trapeziometacarpal joint