Professor and Director of Athletic Training in the Department of Exercise Science & Athletic Training, Paul R. Geisler, EdD, ATC was invited to submit a paper for peer review in the Journal of Athletic Training's new "Current Clinical Concepts" column on iliotibial band pathology.
Iliotibial band pain in runners is the number one cause of pain and discomfort in the lateral knee of runners, and also common in cyclists and rowers, as well. For over 40 years, the sports medicine community has been working from a flawed paradigm to evaluate and treat the condition, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Out of frustration and curiosity with ITB pain science and practice, Dr. Geisler has been researching this complex condition for several years, publishing one other paper and presenting on the topic on numerous occasions. This paper is the culmination of that work, a new paradigm based on a synthesis of available evidence.
Abstract: The current paradigm of practice concerning insidious lateral knee pain involving the iliotibial band in repetitive knee flexion activities has been presented as iliotibial band friction syndrome since 1974. Renne's original model for ITB pain was based on a limited or incorrect understanding of the relevant anatomy, biomechanics, and tissue science, which gradually led to a plethora of frustrating and ineffective interventional strategies. Mounting evidence from arthroscopic, cadaveric and biomechanical studies, as well as from diagnostic imaging and histology reports helps deconstruct this long-held paradigm for ITB related pathology and treatment. Using an archeological approach to gather relevant evidence, this clinical update synthesizes the available data in order to present an updated, more informed model for understanding and treating insidious onset related ITB related pathology. The result is a new, more informed paradigm called Iliotibial Band Impingement Syndrome.
Link to the Epub, ahead of print version is here, the paper will be published in the JAT soon.