Two tests to help determine why finger flexion may be limited

Don’t forget about these two tests to help determine why finger flexion may be limited. 

• Bunnell-Littler test- To do this you hold the MP joint in maximum extension and passively flex the PIP joints. Then hold the MP joints in flexion and passively flex the PIP joints.  If the PIP joint can be passively flexed more when the MP joints are flexed than they can when the MP joints are in extension then there is tightness in the intrinsic muscles.
• Extrinsic Tightness test- Very similar to the other one.  For this, you do the same exact test in both positions however, the results are opposite. If you can passively flex the PIP joint more when the MP joint is extended then you can when the MP joint is flexed then you may be dealing with Extrinsic tightness.

Contributed by Stacey Doyon OTRL, CHT