Conservative Treatment for Iliotibial Band Syndrome in Runners: What a Systematic Review of Pain and Function Outcomes Found

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who see runners with lateral knee pain and want a short, evidence-focused update on what conservative care has been studied and what the results showed.

Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in outpatient orthopedic, sports and performance settings. Physical therapist assistants participate under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, who retains responsibility for evaluation, diagnosis and the plan of care.

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course reports the findings of a single systematic review. All figures and conclusions presented here trace to that publication.

Sanchez-Alvarado A, Bokil C, Cassel M, Engel T. Effects of conservative treatment strategies for iliotibial band syndrome on pain and function in runners: a systematic review. Front Sports Act Living. 2024;6:1386456. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1386456. PMID: 39247485. PMCID: PMC11377285.

Scope note

This course describes what the review reported. It does not issue clinical recommendations of its own, and it does not extend the findings to populations the review did not cover, such as non-runners or patients managed surgically.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the population, treatment categories and outcome domains examined in this systematic review of conservative care for iliotibial band syndrome in runners.
2. Name the treatment strategy the reviewers identified as the common core across the included studies, and state the direction of the reported changes in pain and function.
3. Explain the limits the authors placed on their own conclusions, including why the included studies could not be combined into a single pooled analysis.

1. Start Here: Course Overview, Objectives and How to Earn Credit
2. Podcast: Conservative Care for Runners With Iliotibial Band Syndrome (about nine minutes)
3. Iliotibial Band Syndrome in Runners: The Problem the Review Set Out to Address
4. How the Reviewers Searched, Screened and Judged the Studies
5. What the Included Studies Reported: Hip Abductor Strengthening at the Center
6. Where the Evidence Runs Thin: Mixed Designs, Small Samples and Short Follow-Up
7. From Review to Clinic: How the Authors Framed the Practical Meaning
8. Key Takeaways: The Points Worth Repeating to a Colleague
9. Post-Test and Course Evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course reports the findings of a single systematic review. All figures and conclusions presented here trace to that publication.
2. Sanchez-Alvarado A, Bokil C, Cassel M, Engel T. Effects of conservative treatment strategies for iliotibial band syndrome on pain and function in runners: a systematic review. Front Sports Act Living. 2024;6:1386456. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1386456. PMID: 39247485. PMCID: PMC11377285.
3. Scope note
4. This course describes what the review reported. It does not issue clinical recommendations of its own, and it does not extend the findings to populations the review did not cover, such as non-runners or patients managed surgically.