Final answer:
To perform wrist ulnar flexion stretches, extend your arm and press down your fingers towards the floor, or make a fist and tilt your wrist into further ulnar deviation for a stretch. These methods engage muscles like the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digiti minimi brevis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wrist ulnar flexion stretch can be performed through various methods, but two common ways to stretch and strengthen the involved muscles are as follows:
- For the first method, extend your arm in front of you with your palm facing down. Then, use your other hand to gently press down on the fingers near the base of your fingertips, directing them towards the floor until you feel a stretch on the inside of your forearm. This movement assists in bending the hand up toward the shoulder and tilts the hand to the side away from the body, while it stabilizes the wrist by engaging the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle which is responsible for flexion and adduction of the hand at the wrist.
- The second method involves making a fist with your fingers. Stabilize your arm and wrist, and then gently attempt to tilt your wrist further into ulnar deviation, using your opposite hand if needed for a deeper stretch. This engages the flexor digiti minimi brevis and flexor digitorum longus muscles, which are responsible for flexing the little finger and the four small toes, respectively.
By performing these stretches, you can improve the flexibility and strength of muscles that contribute to wrist ulnar deviation, which include the flexor and extensor muscles that modify the angle at the wrist joint.