Patients with neck pain may have hand weakness from pain and spasm of muscles in the hand such that it may be difficult to oppose the little finger to the thumb.
For the little finger to move forward to meet the thumb, there must be elevation of the knuckle bone of the little finger. The palm of the hand must have also be brought into a cupping position.
The muscles responsible for opposition of the little finger are:
- opponens digiti minimi supplied by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (C8, T1)
- flexor digiti minimi supplied by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (C8, T1)