END FEEL | NORMAL & ABNORMAL | ORTHOPAEDIC ASSESSMENT | IN TAMIL | SARATH LECTURES

In physiotherapy assessment, "end feel" refers to the quality of resistance felt by the examiner when moving a joint to the end of its passive range of motion (ROM). It provides valuable insights into the type of tissue that is restricting further movement and helps differentiate between normal and abnormal joint conditions.
End feel is categorized into several types:
Normal End Feels:
1. Soft End Feel: Occurs when soft tissue approximation limits the motion, such as in knee flexion when the back of the calf meets the posterior thigh.
2. Firm End Feel: Characterized by a firm but slightly elastic resistance, typical of ligamentous or capsular structures, such as in shoulder or ankle movements.
3. Hard End Feel: Happens when bone meets bone, creating a sudden and rigid stop, like elbow extension where the olecranon process meets the olecranon fossa.
Abnormal End Feels:
1. Empty End Feel: No true mechanical limitation is felt, often due to pain preventing the joint from reaching its normal end range.
2. Springy End Feel: A bouncy or rebounding sensation indicating internal derangement like a torn meniscus in the knee.
3. Spasm End Feel: Involuntary muscle contraction or spasm felt by the examiner, often due to acute joint or muscle injury.
Assessing end feel helps physiotherapists identify the nature of joint restrictions and guide appropriate treatment interventions.

[@bhuvanafitness2509]

Nice