# Is this thumb just double jointed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129 "2011-08-18T07:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/1 "2011-08-18T07:07:35Z")
I’m wondering, I definitely can’t bend my thumb like the one in the picture, is it double jointed or is that something else? 🙂 [http://www.toptiertronic.com/pics/thumb.jpg](http://www.toptiertronic.com/pics/thumb.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/2 "2011-08-18T13:27:28Z")
Yeah. I can do the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/3 "2011-08-18T13:30:17Z")
Isn’t that just a normal thumb doing a normal thing? What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/4 "2011-08-18T15:00:54Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > Isn’t that just a normal thumb doing a normal thing? What am I missing? Where the thumb leaves the base of the hand, I cannot make my joint go that far away from the rest of the fingers (That is the best way I can describe it), I don’t think most people can. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/5 "2011-08-18T15:27:13Z")
I’ve always done it, taking it for granted, and am surprised to learn that anyone can’t. I play piano and guitar FWIW… ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/6 "2011-08-19T13:50:07Z")
Just in case you were unaware, no one is actually “double jointed”. The wiki on [hypermobility](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermobility) has some pictures that might make one cringe. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/7 "2011-08-19T13:59:14Z")
My thumbs do that, also. I used to make the coolest finger gun on my block as a kid. Also puppy ears for shadow puppets. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/8 "2011-08-19T16:39:43Z")
ah, so thats what I do with my shoulders is called. wow it really is icky to see on someone else ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-thumb-just-double-jointed/593129/9 "2011-08-19T17:46:39Z")
It’s a hypermobile metacarpophalangeal joint. I can do that too. Basically, the joint can swing back farther than normal people. I’ve always thought it was my mutant X factor. Too bad the Xmen don’t need a guy whose main superpower is being able to do the “I pulled off my thumb!” trick really well.