The Role of the Iliotibial Tract in Patellofemoral Pain and Iliotibial Band Friction Syndromes

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this article is to investigate critically the role of the iliotibial tract in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Several authors have advocated that a tight iliotibial tract has an important influence on the patella, pulling it laterally and causing pain in subjects with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and therefore should be stretched as part of a treatment technique. However a review of clinical, surgical and anatomical papers found little evidence to support this viewpoint, although there is clinical evidence to suggest that a tight iliotibial tract can cause another separate problem, iliotibial tract friction syndrome. It is suggested that the role of a tight iliotibial tract in patellofemoral pain syndrome may be wrongly ascribed.