What is end-feel?

The end-feel on passive movement testing can provide some interesting additional diagnostic value.

On passive testing, we go for the end of the movement and then we slightly provoke at end range in order to test the specific end feel.

There are normal and pathological end feels.

Please don’t use any force, but merely perform a gentle provocation.

Normal end feel

Hard : e.g. elbow extension, knee extension

Hard end feel on passive extension
Capsular (elastic) : e.g. rotations at shoulder, elbow

Elastic end feel on passive supination
Extra-articular (tissue approximation) : flexion at elbow, flexion at the hip

Patholigical end feel
Too hard : e.g. osteoarthrosis
Too soft : e.g. loose body in the elbow joint, extension has a softer end feel instead of hard
Muscle spasm (involuntary or voluntary muscle contraction) : e.g. arthritis
Springy block : e.g. meniscus subluxation causing a limitation of knee extension.