Why Does my Hand Curl When I Move into Extension
With Dr. Nick Housley 27th Oct, 21Article
The brain and neurological system coordinate and govern the movements
our muscles perform, and our wrists work on biomechanics. The brain
stem, which is located deep within the brain and in the top part of
the spinal cord, controls involuntary muscles. The cerebral motor
cortex and the cerebellum are the portions of the brain that control
voluntary muscles.
When you decide to move, the motor cortex sends an
electrical signal to the muscles, which causes them
to contract, via the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
The muscles on the left side of the body are controlled by
the motor cortex on the right side of the brain and vice
versa.
Muscles contract and then relax to move body components. Muscles can
pull bones back into place, but they can’t push them back into place.
As a result, they work as flexors and extensors in pairs. To bend a limb
at a joint, the flexor contracts. The flexor relaxes and the extensor
contracts to extend or straighten the limb at the same joint when the
movement is finished. The biceps muscle in the front of the upper arm,
for example, is a flexor, whereas the triceps muscle in the back of the
upper arm is an extensor. The biceps contract as you bend your elbow. The
triceps contract and the biceps release to straighten the elbow.
The wrist is a synovial joint of the ellipsoidal (condyloid) type,
allowing movement along two axes. This means that the wrist joint
can perform flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction.
It’s typical for the hand to tighten into a fist and the fingers to
curl inward after a major stroke. Tenodesis grip is the term for this
condition. This is the result of severe spasticity, which is produced
by a disconnect between the brain and the muscles.
The brain and nerve system are normally in regular contact with your
muscles. The brain is in charge of instructing your muscles when they
should move and when they should relax.
When the portion of the brain that regulates hand function is
damaged by a stroke, communication between the hand and the
neurological system is disrupted. As a result, the hand muscles
tense up to defend themselves, resulting in a clenched hand.
Spasticity is characterized by stiff, tight muscles following a stroke.
When spasticity is left untreated and uncontrolled, it can deteriorate into
contractures. Extreme stiffness in the muscles, joints or connective tissue
limits the range of motion with this condition.
Stroke victims must treat spasticity early on to avoid contractures.
There are still ways to relax the muscles if spasticity has developed
to contractures. It will, however, take longer.
It is critical to stretch your hand daily. The affected hand
will continue to clench into a tighter fist if you ignore it.
When a person neglects their arm, the brain becomes entirely
disengaged from it, a condition known as learned non-use happens.
This is one way the brain strives to be more efficient, but it
can make the patient’s recovery more challenging. It’s like if we
don’t use it we might lose it.
With all of this in mind, Motus Nova keeps your
hand upright to aid in this movement and to assist the
hand in straightening and performing all of the tasks
that require the use of the hand. All of this is
accomplished by rerouting the brain’s vascular network,
which was disrupted as a result of the stroke.