Effects of combined active knee exercise and high-intensity continuous ultrasound on infrapatellar fat pad stiffness and gliding in healthy participants: A randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial

Key Points

• Infrapatellar fat pad stiffness improved with combined ultrasound and exercise treatment, promoting better knee movement.
• Participants demonstrated a notable 25% reduction in stiffness after the intervention, suggesting enhanced tissue flexibility.
• Crossover trial involved random assignment to ultrasound or placebo, followed by active knee exercise assessments with blinding.
• Findings may support rehabilitation approaches for knee stiffness, although external validation in wider populations is needed.