Fat Pad Syndrome Test assesses integrity of fat pad at which location?

• A. Heel
• B. Metatarsal heads plantar aspect
• C. Dorsum of foot
• D. Medial malleolus

Answer: (A)

This test is about the cushioning fat pad under the heel. The plantar fat pad beneath the calcaneus acts as the main shock absorber when the heel strikes the ground, and Fat Pad Syndrome arises when that pad becomes thin or damaged. By examining the plantar aspect of the heel, the test gauges whether this cushion is intact and able to protect the bone from loading. If the fat pad is compromised, tenderness or pain appears with palpation or loading of the heel, indicating reduced cushioning. Other locations—such as the top of the foot, the area around the ankle bone, or the fat pad under the metatarsal heads—aren’t the primary focus for this syndrome, which centers on the heel’s plantar fat pad.