For radiocarpal dorsal glide joint mobilization, what is the patient position?

• A. Seated (pronated palm)
• B. Seated (neutral palm)
• C. Seated (supinated palm)
• D. Standing

Answer: (C)

Positioning the forearm so the radiocarpal joint surfaces can glide along the correct axis is essential for a dorsal glide. For a radiocarpal dorsal glide, you want to direct the glide toward the back of the hand to promote dorsiflexion, and that is best achieved with the patient seated and the forearm in supination (palm facing up). This supinated position exposes the dorsal aspect of the wrist, lines up the joint surfaces to receive a posterior glide, and provides a stable base for the therapist to stabilize the distal forearm while applying the glide to the carpal row. A seated position with the palm neutral or pronated makes it harder to align the glide vector with the radiocarpal joint axis and can reduce control and effectiveness, while standing offers less stability for precise, graded mobilization.