Iliotibial band syndrome
This is an irritation of the lower part of the iliotibial band on the outer surface of the knee. The irritation occurs due to the band rubbing against a bony part of the knee.
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Synonyms for iliotibial band syndrome:
- Tensor fascia lata syndrome
- Wiper syndrome
What is iliotibial band syndrome?
This is an irritation of the lower part of the iliotibial band on the outer surface of the knee. The irritation occurs due to the band rubbing against a bony part of the knee.
What is the iliotibial band?
It is a large layer of very thick and rigid tissue located on the side of the hip and running down the side of the thigh to the knee. The iliotibial band contributes to knee and hip movements.
What are the symptoms of iliotibial band syndrome?
The most common symptoms are:
- Very specific pain on the outside of the knee without any trauma
- The pain may be increased by:
- Walking
- Going up/down stairs or hiking
- Running
- Worse on uneven surfaces
- Worse if running with long strides
What are the causes of iliotibial band syndrome?
Irritation of the iliotibial band is mainly caused by poorly managed repetitive knee flexion and extension movements (running, mountain hiking, or other leg exercises).
This injury is very common among runners.
How is iliotibial band syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made based on the history of symptoms and a clinical examination.
X-rays or other medical imaging cannot diagnose this syndrome.
What are the physiotherapy treatments for iliotibial band syndrome?
You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What are the physiotherapy treatments for iliotibial band syndrome?
Your physiotherapist will perform an assessment to determine the cause of your iliotibial band syndrome by evaluating the following elements:
- Your joint mobility
- The gliding of your nerves
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:
- Mobilize your knee to reduce pain and improve your movement
- will provide specific exercises to re-educate the control of your knee movements.
- will provide exercises to regain mobility, reduce pain, and restore your muscle strength.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Give you advice for your posture and movements.
What to do at home for iliotibial band syndrome?
Temporarily stop doing movements that cause too much pain, and then gradually start doing them again.
Here are some tips that may help:
- Practice pain-free transfer activities:
- Biking (sometimes biking is also painful with this syndrome. If this is the case, avoid biking temporarily)
- Swimming
- Avoid standing with your hip pushed out to one side
- Do gluteal strengthening exercises.
What to do if I am a runner with iliotibial band syndrome?
Here are some tips to use if you are a runner dealing with this injury:
- Incorporate walking minutes into your running outings
- Take small, quicker steps instead of long strides
- Try to make less noise while running.
- Run more often, but for shorter durations each time.
- Avoid running through the pain. This injury tends to become more sensitive if you continue to run while in pain.
If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.
Refer to the blog post on running (link to come) for practical running tips.
To learn more...
You can check out the podcast
Episode #1 discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries.
Find the episode on YouTube:
Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:
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Sources
- Dubois, B. (2019). "La clinique du coureur, la santé par la course à pied." Mons Eds.
- Hadeed A, Tapscott DC. Iliotibial band friction syndrome. StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 Jun 7.
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