Opponens Pollicis / Adductor Pollicis The symptoms caused by trigger points in these muscles are often mistaken for arthritis.          Origin Opponens pollicis: flexor retinaculum. Tubercle of trapezium. Adductor pollicis: oblique fibers: anterior surfaces of 2nd and 3rd metacarpals, capitate, and trapezoid. Transverse fibers: palmar surface of 3rd metacarpal bone. Insertion Opponens pollicis: entire length of radial border of 1st metacarpal. Adductor pollicis: ulna (medial) side of base of proximal phalanx of thumb. Action Opponens pollicis: opposes (i.e. abducts, then slightly medially rotates, followed by flexion and adduction) thumb so that pad of thumb can be...

Treating Trigger Points - Thenar Eminence   Pain from trigger points referred to the wrist and the base of the thumb in the web space and is often wrongly diagnosed as O/A thumb Osteoarthritis can develop at any age but usually appears after age 45. The symptoms of OA thumb often include pain and stiffness brought on by active trigger points. The “saddle joint” at the base of the thumb between the metacarpal and trapezium bones, often becomes arthritic with age. This is osteoarthritis - loss of the smooth cartilage surface covering the ends of the bones in the joints. The cartilage...