Iliotibial band friction syndrome
Iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) is an overuse injury mainly affecting distance runners. It can also occur in cyclists, in team sport athletes who need to run long distances (e.g. soccer or hockey players) and in weightlifters. It is very rare in sprinters or court sport players (tennis, squash, basketball and netball).
Some cases can be quite difficult to diagnose. The features of diagnosis are:
- Pain occurs on the outside of the knee
- Pain is worse on slow straight line running and actually better on fast, change of direction movements (the opposite to most knee injuries)
- Pain gets worse the longer that running goes for
- Pain is worse running downhill than uphill or on level ground
- Pain can be severe once the band starts rubbing on bare bone. In this case it is relieved fully by walking with the leg totally straight.
Treatment of ITBFS
- Activity modification is the easiest treatment, if this is acceptable. For example, if you are a basketball player who has been trying to get fit by doing 10km hill runs, then if you stick to basketball the pain will go away.
- If you are a cyclist, lower your seat height.
- If you are a runner, reduce your distance per run, your downhill running, but if you like increase your speed.
- Use local measures to reduce the inflammation around the band (ice, anti-inflammatory gel, cortisone injections ).
- Gluteal (buttock) strengthening exercises and balance exercises probably help.
- Surgery is a last resort but almost always cures the problem (by taking the tension out of the ITB).
To post a comment or ask a question about these injuries, visit the injuryupdate Forum, click here .
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