Iliotibial Band Syndrome Physiotherapy
Iliotibial band syndrome commonly presents as discomfort on the outer side of the knee during running, especially downhill, after increasing distance, or when training load has changed. In some cases, symptoms may not be very obvious at the start of a run, but become clearer as distance builds and may affect running and daily activity.
If your knee symptoms are mainly at the front of the knee and are more noticeable during running, stairs, or squatting, you may also refer to [Runner’s Knee Physiotherapy].
Common symptoms
- Outer knee pain during running
- More noticeable downhill or on stairs
- More likely to come on after increasing distance
- Tightness or discomfort around the outer knee after running
- In some cases, symptoms settle gradually after stopping
How physiotherapy assesses
Physiotherapy usually begins by looking at whether the symptoms are mainly at the outer side of the knee, when they come on, and how they respond to running, downhill movement, or changes in training load. Where appropriate, gait, running-related movement, hip-knee control, and lower limb loading may also be reviewed to clarify this pattern of lateral knee pain.
How physiotherapy may help
Physiotherapy may include activity modification, strengthening and control work, running-related advice, and graded rehabilitation according to symptom response, running load, and lower limb control. The aim is to improve outer knee discomfort and running tolerance progressively.
Related Conditions
Runner’s Knee
Lateral Hip Pain
Ankle Sprain
Not sure whether your condition falls into this category?
You may first arrange a physiotherapy assessment to understand the more suitable management approach according to your symptoms, activity needs, and rehabilitation goals.