To perform adduction of the wrist during ROM, which instruction should the nurse include?

• A. Move your palm toward the inner part of your forearm
• B. With your palm facing down, move your wrist sideways toward your little finger
• C. Bring the back of your hand as far back toward the wrist as you can
• D. With your palm facing down, move your wrist sideways toward your thumb

Answer: (D)

Adduction of the wrist means moving the hand toward the ulna, the pinky-side of the forearm. In practical terms, when the palm is facing down, adduction is performed by sliding the wrist toward the little finger side. So the instruction should be: move your wrist sideways toward your little finger.

Why this direction is correct: it matches the ulna-side (pinky) movement of the wrist, which is known as ulnar deviation or wrist adduction.

The other instructions describe different movements: moving the palm toward the inner forearm isn’t the same directional cue for adduction, bringing the back of the hand toward the wrist is extension rather than deviation, and moving toward the thumb side with the palm down is radial deviation (abduction), not adduction.