About this topic
Iliotibial band syndrome is also known as ITBS. It may also be called iliotibial band friction syndrome. It is a health problem caused by swelling of the iliotibial band, or ITB, in the knee. The ITB is a strong band of tissues found at the side of the upper leg. It supports the leg muscles during running and other activities. It is a sports injury most often caused by long-term overuse. It is most common in runners. ‚
Treatment of ITBS depends on the cause. Treatment may include drugs, therapy, or surgery. ‚
View OriginalView Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as told by your doctor.
- Rest your knee.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Do this 3 to 4 times a day, or as told by your doctor.
- Do exercises as you have been told to help with leg strength and flexibility.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You may also need to see a physical therapist (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion in your knee.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest your knee for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your knee worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your knee gets better. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain
- Injury to other parts of the leg
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do warm-up exercises before and cool-down exercises after playing sports.
- Use proper gear or footwear when you are playing sports.
- Do exercises to help strengthen your muscles.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Pain or swelling gets worse
- Not able to walk
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or swelling or I am not able to walk.
Where can I learn more?
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases ‚
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Knee_Problems/default.asp#14 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚