How is fat pad impingement treated without surgery?

Step one: calm it down

The fat pad is very sensitive, so the first aim is to stop pinching it. Avoid standing with the knees braced back, full straight-leg kicks and end-range straightening exercises for a few weeks. Ice for 15 minutes after activity can ease swelling. Simple anti-inflammatory medicine for a short time may help if your doctor agrees it is safe for you.

Step two: unload with taping

Physiotherapists often use tape across the top of the kneecap, lifting it slightly upwards and away from the fat pad. Many people feel immediate relief when it is applied correctly. Tape is a short-term tool to allow pain-reduced exercise, not a long-term fix.

Shoes with a small heel, rather than completely flat footwear, can also reduce the tendency to lock the knee back.

Step three: strength and control

• Quadriceps strengthening in the mid-range, such as wall sits or small squats, avoiding the last few degrees of straightening at first
• Hamstring strengthening to resist hyperextension
• Hip and glute work to improve leg alignment
• Balance and single-leg control drills
• A gradual return to sport-specific movements, including kicking, once pain allows

If it is not improving

If pain persists after a few months of well-guided rehabilitation, Dr. Gelber reassesses the diagnosis in Doha, often with an MRI. A steroid injection into the fat pad, usually ultrasound-guided, can settle inflammation in selected patients. Arthroscopic removal of scarred or enlarged fat pad tissue is reserved for a small number of people who do not respond, as removing too much can itself cause problems.

At Aman Hospital, the plan is matched to your work, sport and daily routine.