Pinch activities commonly used by hand therapists were analyzed electromyographically to determine level of activation of the extensor digitorum (ED), flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) of the long finger. The activities were studied with the wrist positioned in flexion and in extension. Statistical tests indicated that the type of pinch elicits a significantly different amount of participation of the FDS but not of the FDP or ED, which contract similarly for the three pinches studied. The mean relative electrical activity of the FDP and ED was affected by wrist position but that of the FDS was not. Treatment guidelines are suggested.
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