Infrapatellar fat pad impingement can happen for a number of reasons. Infrapatellar fat pad syndrome, also known as Hoffa's disease, is when pain in the front of the knee occurs due to problems with the infrapatellar fat pad. The three main fat pads in the knee. Fat Pad Anatomy Generalized pain in the front of the knee, also known as anterior knee pain, can have many causes. The IFP is composed chiefly of adipocytes and receives an abundant supply of blood vessels and … The fat pad is under continual irritation and could become inflamed. Some of the key anatomical features of the IFP are as follows (see figure 1): Cartilage (meniscus) also sits within the joint to provide shock absorption and stability. The good news here is that any efforts to reduce the inflammatory state of the fat pad will have a positive effect on the inflammatory state of the whole knee. What is the fat pad, why does it become ‘impinged’? The main fat pad - or Hoffa's fat pad - in the knee is an area of cushioning fatty tissue behind the patellar tendon - but there are also other fat pads in the knee above the patellar area. The fat pad in the knee has a lot of nerve cells, so any injury to it is extremely painful. hyperextension), but NOT with knee flexion. As the fat pad is housed within the capsule of the knee the fat pad drives further joint breakdown that clearly is undesirable. Use my test above to see if it truly is a fat pad issue. Symptoms may worsen if the knee is overly straightened or bent for too long a period. The procedure is often done in conjunction with liposuction in the thighs to achieve a more contoured look. Signs: presence of edema ; tenderness with palpation of the fat pad through the tendon; tenderness with palpation on either side of the tendon when the knee is brought from flexion in to extension; painful if fat pad … The fat pad is a mass of fatty tissue that lies below the kneecap (patella) and behind the patellar tendon. Objective. Also known as Hoffa’s syndrome or fat pad syndrome, impingement is an injury in which the soft tissue that lies beneath the kneecap becomes pinched at the end of the thigh bone.The condition creates extreme pain below the kneecap and along the sides of the patellar tendon. This mass is supported by the shin and thigh bone and considered to be the highly penetrated area with nerves which makes it extremely sensitive. Muscles, tendons and ligaments hold the joint in place and help with movement. Fat Pad Impingement Anatomy. Infrapatellar fat pad - A large structure positioned just behind the patellar tendon and the knee cap. The knee fat pad, or infrapatellar fat pad, is one of these structures. Inflammatory changes in this fat pad may be found in patients, especially athletes with posterior knee pain. Methods. I believe it presents itself pretty often in the clinic, more than most PT’s realize. The fat pad space-saving properties and pain sensors can create increased sensitivity and severe pain when injured. The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP), also known as Hoffa's fat pad, is an intracapsular, extrasynovial structure that fills the anterior knee compartment, and is richly vascularized and innervated. You can imagine how a direct blow or a direct fall on to the knee could cause some damage. Many knee injuries involve a blow to the front of the knee and the fat pad is an effective structure to buffer the forces on the vulnerable articular surfaces of the distal femur. The knee fat pad or Hoffa’s pad is the (infrapatellar fatty pad) which sits below your patella (knee cap) directly behind your patellar tendon. If this becomes inflamed it can be a potent cause of anterior knee pain. Although knee fat is not as dangerous as visceral fat, which accumulates around your organs, any excess fat affects your self-esteem and can contribute to serious medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease.