What is the Treatment for Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

If you’re an athlete experiencing sharp pain on the side of the knee, especially while running or cycling, you may have a tightened IT band. The iliotibial band is a tendon that facilitates most of your lower leg movements, including running and cycling. When the IT band rubs against your knees or hips, you may develop inflammation and swelling, leading to increased pain on the side of the knee or on the outside and back of the knee. In that case, you may need treatment for the iliotibial band syndrome.

Iliotibial band syndrome is a medical condition wherein the IT band gets inflamed from constantly grinding against your knees or hips while running or cycling. The IT band is located on the outside of the leg, stretching from the top of the pelvis to the knee. These elastic-like tissues connect your muscles to your bones, allowing you to squeeze your muscles and perform various physical activities. Iliotibial band syndrome is an overuse injury wherein constantly running and cycling inflames the iT band, leading to pain in the lateral knee with flexion.

Knee Pain Doctor NYC is a state-of-the-art pain management center specializing in cutting-edge treatments for iliotibial band syndrome. Our interventional pain doctors use cutting-edge diagnostic tools and techniques to minimize the iliotibial band friction, alleviate swelling and pain, and reduce pain on the side of the knee. Our interventional pain specialists offer the latest and safest minimally invasive pain treatments to address the root cause of pain and ensure long-lasting results. Please schedule an appointment with our knee pain doctor in Midtown Manhattan or the Financial District.

Your knee pain specialist will perform a comprehensive diagnosis and consultation to identify and treat the root cause of iliotibial band syndrome. The knee pain doctor will examine your knees, discuss your symptoms, perform physical examinations, and check for the signs and symptoms of iliotibial band syndrome, such as grating feelings while running and cycling, pain over the greater trochanter, pain in one or both of your knees, and persistent pain that increases with time.

After a thorough physical examination, the knee pain doctor will administer some imaging tests, such as MRI scans and ultrasound tests. During the MRI scan, the knee pain doctor will use the process of elimination to exclude other possible sources of knee pain, such as lateral collateral ligament injury and meniscal tears. The knee pain doctor will also use ultrasound to determine if you have lateral knee pain with flexion or tight IT bands.

Your knee pain doctor will also ask specific questions about your symptoms, including the location of your symptoms, a description of the sensations, how long you have the symptoms, the degree of pain, your medication history, and more. After a thorough evaluation, the knee pain doctor will determine if you truly have iliotibial band syndrome and curate a personalized treatment plan.

If you have the signs and symptoms of iliotibial band syndrome, such as pain in the lateral knee with flexion or knee pain when moving side to side, you should simply rest. Give your IT band enough time to heal, following which the pain may dissipate.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen and naproxen reduce swelling and pain caused by the inflammation of the IT band. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications will alleviate knee pain and swelling, helping you feel better.

Physical therapy is an essential component of your treatment. Your physical therapist may recommend IT band stretches and strengthening exercises. IT band stretches will lengthen the iliotibial band and decrease tension to alleviate knee and hip pain.

The symptoms of knee pain and iliotibial band syndrome can worsen if you don’t maintain the proper posture. Your knee pain doctor will offer posture training while performing daily activities and playing sports, which can reduce the symptoms.

Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the IT band is tightened or inflamed from constantly rubbing against the knee or hip bones. Corticosteroids are injections that reduce inflammation, thus providing immediate pain relief.

Conservative and minimally invasive solutions are usually enough to treat iliotibial band syndrome. But if you have severe or persistent iliotibial band problems, you may need surgical intervention. However, surgery for iliotibial band syndrome is extremely rare.

Knee Pain Doctor NYC is a group of state-of-the-art pain management centers specializing in the cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment protocol for iliotibial band syndrome. Our interventional pain doctors understand your symptoms and condition, determine if you have iliotibial band syndrome, and curate a personalized treatment plan, which involves conservative solutions and minimally invasive procedures.

You can find our pain management center in Midtown Manhattan or the Financial District in New York City. Our Midtown Manhattan office is located at 290 Madison, a short walk from Madison Square Park, and your FiDi office is close to the New York Stock Exchange. Please schedule an appointment with your nearest knee pain doctor for your treatment for iliotibial band syndrome.