What is the difference between a hard end feel and a springy end feel?

• A. Hard end feel suggests a bony block; springy end feel indicates an elastic rebound typically from meniscal or disc tissue.
• B. Hard end feel indicates a muscle spasm; springy end feel indicates a bony block.
• C. Hard end feel indicates an elastic rebound; springy end feel indicates a bone block.
• D. Hard end feel indicates no resistance; springy end feel indicates joint laxity.

Answer: (A)

End feel is about the quality of resistance you feel at the end of a joint’s range of motion. The difference between a hard end feel and a springy end feel lies in what is providing that end resistance.

A hard end feel occurs when the joint surfaces come into hard contact, giving a sudden, bony stop with virtually no give. This is typical of a bony block, such as when bone-on-bone contact limits movement. That’s why a hard end feel is described as a bony block.

A springy end feel, on the other hand, is an elastic rebound you feel after the initial resistance. It suggests intra-articular tissue giving way briefly and then rebounding, commonly from structures like the menisci or an articular disc. That elastic rebound differentiates it from a rigid, bony stop.

So the correct distinction is: hard end feel = sudden bony stop; springy end feel = elastic rebound from intra-articular tissue.