What clinical assessment is primarily utilized to evaluate the end-feel of a joint?

The primary clinical assessment employed to evaluate the end-feel of a joint is passive-forced range of motion (PF-ROM). This type of assessment is crucial as it examines how a joint reacts when a practitioner applies a passive force beyond the active range. The end-feel refers to the sensation felt by the examiner at the end of the available range of motion, which provides important insights into the integrity of the joint, underlying tissues, and possible pathologies.

PF-ROM allows healthcare providers to determine the characteristics of the end-feel, which can be classified as hard, soft, or firm, helping to differentiate between types of tissue involvement. For example, a hard end-feel might indicate a bone-to-bone contact, while a soft end-feel could suggest tissue approximation.

In contrast, other assessments like active-assisted (AA-ROM), active-free (AF-ROM), and active-resisted (AR-ROM) are focused on the patient's voluntary or assisted movements rather than on the passive mechanics of the joint itself. These methods offer insights into a patient's strength, control, and overall motor function but do not sufficiently evaluate the joint's end-feel characteristics, which is critical for a comprehensive clinical assessment.