Lying prone or sitting or standing
Ask the patient to wear shorts.
Posterior to the patient lying prone or standing and anterior to the patient in sitting.
Please lie on your stomach (or other position). May I place my fingers on the back of your knee? (or point to the demonstrated area).
There will be a slight squeeze but it will not be painful.
Assessment of the posterior fat pad may be clinically meaningful if palpation of the popliteal pulse is the goal. A large fat pad is more likely to hinder taking the pulse from the popliteal artery, e.g., which may be desirable to check the viability of the blood supply at various places along the lower limb.
Guide the patient to lie prone (or other position). Gently squeeze the fat layer of the posterior knee for subjective assessment of thickness.
Guide the patient to lie prone (or other position). Gently squeeze the fat layer of the posterior knee for subjective assessment of thickness.
VH - Popliteal fat pad