abduction - spread apart

adduction - bring together

boutonniere - joint assumes a flexed (bent) position

bowstringing - pulling of the tendon away from the bone in the finger because of a disruption of the sheath which normally holds a tendon in place

contracture - joint assumes a flexed (bent) position

deviation - movement to the side or departure from a straight line in a sideways direction

DIP - distal interphalangeal joint; joint farthest away from the hand (closest to the nail)

distal - away from the hand, farthest from the hand

dorsal - back of the hand/finger

edema - swelling

extension mobilization - to move from a bent postion to an extended position

flexion - bending

flexor tendon - tendon which bends the finger

fusiform - spindle-shaped; wide in the middle and narrow at each end

hyperextension - extension or straightening of a joint past the neutral (zero degrees) or straight position

hypermobile - abnormal laxity of the joint in one or more directions

IP - interphalangeal joint of the thumb; joint farthest away from the base of the thumb (closest to the nail)

lateral - side, sideways

lateral deviation - movement to the side

mallet finger - inability to actively straighten the DIP joint

MCP - metacarpal phalangeal joint of the finger or thumb; joint at the base of the finger (knuckle joint) or joint closest to the base of the thumb

MCP flexion - bending at the metacarpal phalangeal joint

neutral position - a straight position or zero degrees

PIP - proximal interphalangeal joint; middle finger joint

prehension - the act of grasping with the fingers

proximal - toward the hand, closest to the hand

A1-A2 pulley - sheath that holds the flexor tendon close to the bone

radial - “thumb” side of the finger

range of motion - the range through which a joint can move from neutral (zero degrees) to a fully flexed position

reducible - to lessen or correct; to restore to normal

subluxation - partial dislocation of a joint; joint surfaces no longer in contact with each other causing abnormal joint motion

swan neck - joint assumes a hyper-extended position

tenosynovitis - inflammation of the tendon

“tip-to-tip” prehension - using the tip of the thumb and the tip of the index finger or index and middle fingers to grasp

ulnar - “little finger” side of the finger

ulnar drift - deviation toward the ulnar side

volar - palm side of the hand/finger

volar crease - crease directly under the joint (palmer side)

webspace - space between the fingers/thumb

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