Iliotibial Band Syndrome

iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), also called IT band syndrome or iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS), inflammation of the band of fibrous tissue known as the iliotibial band (or tract), which extends from the ilium of the hip to the tibia (shinbone). Typically, iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) results from overuse injury, seen most commonly in distance runners and other athletes whose sports require a great degree of knee flexion. The condition has also been described in cyclists, soccer and tennis players, skiers, and even weightlifters (e.g., those doing power-lifting moves, such as squats). ITBS typically causes lateral knee pain that is insidious in onset. It is the most common cause of such knee pain in runners and accounts for approximately one-tenth of running-related injuries. Diagnosis can be relatively straightforward, but ITBS is often very frustrating to treat for both patients and clinicians.