Which end feel is described as a soft end feel?

• A. Hard
• B. Soft
• C. Firm
• D. Empty

Answer: (B)

End feel is the quality of resistance you feel as a joint reaches the end of its passive range. A soft end feel occurs when soft tissues come together and yield, giving a gentle, compressive sensation rather than a hard stop or a noticeable stretch. This happens when two soft surfaces—like muscle and fat or skin—approximate and cushion the motion. A common example is knee flexion, where the posterior thigh and the calf soft tissues come into contact and create a soft, squishy end feel. For contrast, a hard end feel stops abruptly due to bone-on-bone contact; a firm end feel is a springy but definite stretch from capsule or ligament tension; an empty end feel indicates pain that prevents reaching the end range. So, the described end feel is the soft one.