Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Your iliotibial band (ITB) is a thick strong band of connective tissue that travels down the outside of your leg, running from your hip to just past your knee. When it becomes irritated, it can result in a painful condition called iliotibial band syndrome. Symptoms are generally felt on the outside of the knee but it can also affect the hip. It is more common in athletic individuals, and is more likely to be seen in people assigned female at birth than those assigned male at birth.

Iliotibial band syndrome is considered an overuse injury with several different factors that play a part in the development of symptoms. Two of the most common causes are from friction when the fascia rubs against bone or from compression when the tissue is taut. Other contributing factors may include foot pronation, a sudden increase in activity and exercise, or altered mechanics during activities and exercise. 

Symptoms can be described as an aching pain on the outside of the knee that increases with exercise. It may be felt in one or both knees, and may travel up the leg to the hip. At times, the knee may feel the sensation of clicking or popping. The pain tends to increase when walking or running downhill.

At Breathe In Motion Physical Therapy & Wellness, treatment by a physical therapist will include education on the syndrome, personalized and appropriate treatment for your specific symptoms, manual therapy to release tension and break up adhesions in the fascia, and prescription of an individualized home exercise program to stretch and stabilize the iliotibial band.