What Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome is an overuse or repetitive stress injury to the knee or hip that can happen someone bends their knee a lot. It tends to happen in people who do activities like running, cycling, rowing, skiing, hockey, basketball, and soccer.

Any pain, tenderness, or other symptoms usually go away in about 6 weeks by resting the area.

What Is the Iliotibial Band?

The Iliotibial (ill-ee-oh-TIB-ee-el) band is a thick group of tissue fibers (fascia) that runs from the side of the hip along the outside of the knee joint to the top of the shinbone (tibia).

The IT band helps keep the hip and knee stable when running or walking. It also helps the knee to bend and straighten.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

With IT band syndrome, the outside of the knee or hip may burn or be achy, tender, or stiff. Some people feel a pop, snap, or click outside the joint, or have pain down their leg. The joint may feel warm.

The knee or hip pain often gets worse the more someone bends and straightens the knee.

What Causes Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

In the knee and hip, the IT band lays over bursas (sac-like structures that cushion the joints). When the IT band works too hard, the band and bursas can get swollen and sore.

Things that can cause IT band syndrome include:

• not warming up, cooling down, or stretching correctly
• exercising too much and resting too little
• running farther than usual
• running on sloped surfaces (like downhill, on a running track, or on the side of the road, which slant slightly and can tilt the body)
• not cross-training (doing different exercises to work other parts of the body)
• wearing shoes that are worn down or don’t have enough support

Some conditions can make IT band syndrome more likely to happen, including:

• legs that are bowed or different lengths
• tight leg muscles
• weak hip, buttock, and belly muscles
• knee arthritis (a kind of joint disease)

How Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome Diagnosed?

To diagnose IT band syndrome, doctors ask about the injury and do an exam. During the exam, the doctor will press on the knee and leg and move it in certain ways.

Sometimes kids and teens need imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI to look at the IT band and see if the knee has other injuries.

How Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome Treated?

Most kids and teens with IT band syndrome are back to sports within 6 weeks. Treatment often includes:

• Avoiding any exercise that causes pain in the knee or hip.
• Putting an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the sore area for 10–15 minutes.
• Stretching and massaging the knee or hip.
• Treating pain with ibuprofen.

Your doctor may suggest seeing a physical therapist who can teach your child how to strengthen the leg muscles and train the right way. They also can recommend shoes with good support.

Some people may need an injection (shot) of steroid medicine, which can help reduce swelling and pain. It’s rare that someone would need surgery for IT band syndrome.

Can Iliotibial Band Syndrome Be Prevented?

To help prevent IT band syndrome, kids and teens should:

• Do leg stretches and warm up and cool down when exercising.
• Rest enough between workout sessions.
• Run on flat ground or vary the side of the street they run on.
• Wear shoes with good support and use new ones when needed.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call the doctor if your child's knee or hip becomes more swollen or painful, or if your child can't put any weight on the leg.