Wrist extension normative end feel and range?

• A. 0-70 degrees Firm
• B. 0-70 degrees Hard
• C. 0-60 degrees Firm
• D. 0-70 degrees Soft

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how much the wrist can extend and what the end feel feels like when you reach the limit. In a healthy wrist, extension from a neutral position goes to about 70 degrees. The end feel is firm because the dorsal joint capsule and supporting ligaments tense up as you move into extension, so you feel a gradual resistance rather than a hard bone-on-bone stop or a soft, squishy end.

So, a normal wrist extension range is 0 to about 70 degrees with a firm end feel. A soft end feel would suggest swelling or soft tissue compression, and a hard end feel would indicate a bony limitation, neither of which is typical for a normal wrist extension.