Primary prevention

Athletes should avoid training techniques that will cause excessive friction and irritation of the iliotibial band. Running techniques to avoid in excess are:

  • Always in the same direction

  • Running without experience

  • Increasing distance or frequency abruptly

  • Long distance

  • Improper pace

  • Downhill or on cambered surfaces

  • With worn out or incorrect shoes.

Secondary prevention

Avoidance of any identifiable triggers and improvement in running practice. This involves not running in the same direction excessively, avoiding running downhill or on cambered or slippery surfaces, slow increases in running distance and frequency, limiting the distance run, and good running shoes.[15][17][18] Training considerations include stretching of the iliotibial band and strengthening of the hip abductor and external rotator muscles.[7][39]

In male runners with excessive knee varus in stance, a motor control approach should be considered.[23][45] The techniques have not been evaluated in runners with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). However, knee adduction improvements in healthy participants with excessive knee varus in walking have been reported using motion capture and faded feedback over 8 sessions.[45] The verbal cues were "bring your thighs close together" and "walk with your knees close together".

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