Iliotibial Band SyndromeA common injury of the Knee

What is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

ITBS is common knee injury in athletes that causes sharp pain on

either or both sides of the knee

The Anatomy of the knee

Lateral

More Anatomical Views

Anterior

A visible Iliotibial Band

Lateral View with muscular structure

Structures involved in the injury

The structures that are involved in this injury are the iliotibial band, the femur, and the tibia.

Mechanisms of injury

The reason for this injury is excessive friction between your iliotibial band and your knee cap. This can be caused by excessive running or a sudden increase in physical activity. This injury is often associated with wieghtlifting and court sports, like tennis and racquet ball, because of the rapid abduction and adduction of the lower leg that occurs in these activities.

Symptoms

When evaluating a person that may have this condition things to look for are pain on the exterior of the knee, a pain that only occurs when running and stops instantly when you stop running or take short steps, and a pain that radiates up the side of the leg.

Special Tests

Some special tests include The Thomas Test and the Ober Test. In both of these tests you are looking for tightness in the Iliotibial Band

How to do the Thomas Test.

How to do the Ober Test

Treatments

• P.R.I.C.E-protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation

• No running• Anit-inflammatories• Massaging the area of injury• Stretching

Taping for ITBS

Rehab guidelines

• Stretching before running• Return to running gradually• do alternate exercises like swimming and low

gear bike riding.

Reference Page

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmGayCLyIC0&feature=player_embedded#

• http://www.time-to-run.com/injuries/thebig5/itb.htm

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=A0C0WBw4l4s&feature=player_embedded#\

• http://www.itbs.info/html/treatments.html

• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/307850-overview

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