Which motion has a normative end feel described as Soft or firm?

• A. Hip Flexion
• B. Thoracolumbar Flexion
• C. Thoracolumbar Rotation
• D. Hip Abduction

Answer: (A)

End feel is the sensation you feel at the end of a ramped ROM, describing how tissues resist further movement. A soft end feel happens when soft tissues come into contact, while a firm end feel comes from stretch of muscles, ligaments, or joint capsules.

For hip flexion, the end feel can be soft when the knee is bent because the anterior thigh tissues and the abdomen softly compress against each other. If you straighten the knee, the hip flexors and surrounding structures are stretched more, producing a firmer, more resistant end feel. This makes hip flexion the motion that can present as either soft or firm, depending on how the movement is performed.

The other motions involve spinal or hip structures that typically produce a firmer end feel due to capsules and ligaments or muscle-tension limits, so they’re less associated with a soft end feel.