5.3 End Feels

Question 1

What is an end feel?

Answer 1

The resistance or quality of resistance felt at the end of a joint’s range of motion during passive movement

Question 2

What determines a normal end feel?

Answer 2

Joint structure and surrounding muscles or tissues

Question 3

What is a hard or bony end feel?

Answer 3

A hard stop caused by bone on bone contact such as elbow extension when the olecranon fits into the humeral fossa

Question 4

What is a firm or capsular end feel?

Answer 4

A springy resistance caused by joint capsule or ligaments such as wrist extension

Question 5

What is a soft end feel?

Answer 5

A soft stop caused by soft tissue approximation such as elbow flexion when the biceps and forearm muscles meet

Question 6

What are the three normal end feels?

Answer 6

Hard firm or capsular and soft

Question 7

What is a pathologic end feel?

Answer 7

An abnormal end feel that occurs earlier or later than expected or has an unusual quality

Question 8

What is an empty end feel?

Answer 8

An always abnormal end feel where motion is stopped by pain rather than mechanical resistance

Question 9

What does an empty end feel usually indicate?

Answer 9

Lack of soft tissue integrity or joint stability such as ligament injury or inflammation

Question 10

Can normal end feels ever be pathologic?

Answer 10

Yes if they occur in the wrong joint or at the wrong time in the range of motion

Question 11

What does a bony end feel during knee flexion suggest?

Answer 11

Possible abnormality such as a loose bone fragment in the joint

Question 12

What does a soft end feel at the end of elbow extension suggest?

Answer 12

Possible swelling or synovial involvement in the joint

Question 13

Why should clinicians not just label the end feel?

Answer 13

Because the context matters and the end feel must make sense clinically for that joint and situation

Question 14

When will PT students practice identifying end feels?

Answer 14

During lab sessions with passive range of motion practice