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Vimukthi Chandula

Fat Pad Syndrome


Fat pad syndrome is a common cause of anterior knee pain. This is a complication of infrapatellar fat pad (IFP). Infrapatellar fat pad is located in the anterior knee compartment under the patella. It is a protective mass of adipose tissue which separates patella from the thigh and shin bones. Infrapatellar fat pad is a dynamic structure. Fat pad syndrome occurs when the infrapatellar fat pad is impinged. The impingement can be very painful because the infrapatellar fat pad has a rich nerve supply.




 

Common causes for fat pad syndrome are as follows.

  • Sudden injury

  • Chronic knee osteoarthritis

  • Tight quadricep muscles

  • Over straightening of the knee

  • Over-use or repeated micro trauma from sports


Fat pad syndrome can be seen in young women. People who are involving in jumping sports and people who are suffering from joint laxity are predisposed to have this syndrome.

 

When you are suffering from the fat pad syndrome,

  • You will feel extreme pain at the front of the knee, around the bottom of the patella. This pain can be worsened when the leg is fully straightened or when you go up and down stairs or when you are standing up for a long time.

  • Swelling can be seen in below and around the knee.

  • Patients feel very tender to touch the affected area of the knee.

  • Patients should avoid over-extending the knee when they are suffering from fat pad syndrome.

 

The initial treatments for fat pad syndrome are rest and medicines. Rest and medicines can reduce pain and inflammation.


Physiotherapy treatments take part a huge role in order to get the patients back to their usual activities. Several physiotherapy treatments are as follows.

  • ️Taping

  • ️Strengthening exercises

  • ️Quadriceps and anterior hip stretching exercises

 

Patients are advised,

  • ️To wear relatively elevated footwear to correct hyperextension

  • ️To reduce their weight

They are educated about movements.

 

 

References:

https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/knee-clinic/knee-conditions/infrapatellar-fat-pad-syndrome

https://www.toshmd.com/hoffa-s-fat-pad-syndrome-orthopedic-surgeon-murray-utah-salt-lakecity.html#:~:text=Hoffa's%20fat%20pad%20syndrome%20also,of%20the%20Hoffa's%20fat%20pad

 

Fazmiya Noordeen.

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