Extensor Pollicis Brevis and Extensor Pollicis Longus

Comments

The extensor pollicis brevis and extensor pollicis longus are muscles that are responsible for the extension of the wrist, extension and abduction of the fingers and extension of the thumb. Extensor pollicis brevis means ‘short extensor of the thumb’. Extensor pollicis longus means ‘long extensor of the thumb’.

Movements which involve the extension of the wrist will recruit the extensor pollicis brevis/longus, and these exercises can be viewed in the exercise section to the right.

Like most wrist extensor muscles the extensor pollicis brevis/longus have an abundance of the type i fibres. This is no surprise as the extension of the wrist, and flexion and adduction of the fingers and thumb are repeated continually in daily tasks.

Studies have shown that hypertrophy of the type i fibres are best during high rep ranges, anywhere from 25-50 reps per set, which provides optimal time under tension (TUT).
We could therefore conclude that isolation exercises such as overhand wrist curls are best performed in the higher rep ranges if hypertrophy of the wrist extensors is the goal.