A Strong Supporter: Evidence for the Role of the Fifth Finger in Habitual Gripping Activity

The findings indicate that the fifth finger functions as a stabilizing and supportive element across both grip types, contributing to object control and manual stability through its opposition to the thumb and flexion at the MCP joint. This study underscores the functional significance of the fifth ray in habitual manual activity and highlights the value of size-adjusted VERA analyses for detecting subtle patterns of hand use in past populations.