Effect of physical therapy on the flexibility of the infrapatellar fat pad: A single-blind randomised controlled trial

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 17;17(3):e0265333. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265333. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The infrapatellar fat pad plays a biomechanical role in the knee joint. After knee injury or surgery, its dynamics decrease because of an inflammatory response. Physical therapy might be one of the valuable treatments for the recovery of knee joint mobility. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of physical therapy on the dynamics of the infrapatellar fat pad in healthy participants using ultrasonography. In this prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial, 64 healthy young participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the following three interventions: manual therapy, hot pack treatment, and control. Ultrasound images of the infrapatellar fat pad were obtained before and after the intervention. The thickness change ratio of the infrapatellar fat pad was calculated to compare the changes between and within groups before and after the intervention. No significant inter-group differences were observed. The effect sizes were relatively small. Manual therapy or hot pack intervention might not have an immediate effect on infrapatellar fat pad flexibility in healthy participants. Thus, it is necessary to consider more intensive treatments to change the dynamics of the infrapatellar fat pad.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint* / physiology
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Prospective Studies
  • Single-Blind Method

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant Numbers JP19K24282 and JP21K17470.