Which statement describes waxy flexibility?

• A. The patient demonstrates waxy flexibility
• B. The patient has flexible joints
• C. The patient’s limbs stay in the same position in which they are placed by another person
• D. The patient responds to commands with hesitation

Answer: (C)

Waxy flexibility is a sign of catatonia in which a limb will remain in the position to which another person places it. The examiner can move the limb, and the patient holds that new pose instead of returning to its original posture, indicating passive maintenance of position rather than voluntary response. For example, if you move an arm to lie across the chest, the arm stays there for a while. This is different from simply having flexible joints, which would allow various positions but not necessarily the sustained, molded posture after someone else moves the limb. It’s also not about hesitation in responding to commands, which reflects different aspects of motor or cognitive pacing rather than a postural hold. Waxy flexibility often appears with catatonia-related conditions such as schizophrenia or certain mood or medical disorders.