Wrist & Hand in 8: Finkelsteins test — Section 1059: Finkelsteins test

The wrist and hand together form one of the body's most mechanically complex regions, combining eight small carpal bones, dozens of joints, and a dense network of tendons and nerves that pass through narrow anatomical tunnels on their way to the fingers. This density of structure in a small space makes the region especially prone to overuse conditions such as tendon irritation and nerve compression, particularly with repetitive gripping, typing, or fine motor tasks. Carpal tunnel syndrome, affecting the median nerve, is among the most common nerve entrapment conditions in the body.

Because the hand is essential for so many daily tasks, even relatively minor wrist and hand conditions can be disproportionately disruptive, which is part of why early recognition and management are often emphasized. This page reviews the region's anatomy, common conditions, assessment methods, and general exercise and recovery patterns.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel on the palm side of the wrist, producing numbness, tingling, and sometimes weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. De Quervain's tenosynovitis is irritation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, often associated with repetitive gripping or thumb use, and is a common cause of pain near the base of the thumb.