Emerging treatments
Motor control training in runners
While evidence is limited to case study, the use of slow motion capture to identify and modify running patterns may be useful in the return to running phase. Key areas to observe include: trunk lean, crossover foot strike, extended knee at heel strike, low strides per minute, and centre of mass posterior to heel at foot strike.[29][41][42][43]
Hip abductor strengthening real-time feedback
The use of real-time faded feedback (e.g., hip adduction motion graph on a visual display while running and verbal instruction to reduce the hip adduction) has potential to assist in reducing contributing factors such as excessive hip adduction and knee adduction, but has not been researched on patients with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).[44][45]
Treatments aimed at the fascial nature of the iliotibial band
Evidence is weak to support reduced length in the iliotibial band in runners with ITBS.[23] However, theoretical considerations are emerging that describe the iliotibial band as a fascial structure capable of absorbing energy when stretched then contributing energy during the contraction phase, a factor in running efficiency.[46]
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