The IT band inserts mainly on Gerdy's tubercle of the anterolateral tibial condyle, with further fibres to the lateral patellar retinaculum, and is anchored to the distal femur by the lateral intermuscular septum and deep Kaplan fibres. It completes the lateral knee stabilising system alongside the LCL and popliteus. During running, the IT band lies anterior to the lateral femoral epicondyle in extension and posterior in flexion, and repetitive compression and friction at about 30 degrees of flexion produces IT band syndrome.
| Muscle |
|
|---|---|
| Attachment | Gerdy's tubercle on the anterolateral tibial condyle |
Lateral knee stabilisation through IT band tension; assists in knee extension from the extended position
IT band syndrome is the most common cause of lateral knee pain in runners and is also seen in cyclists, producing lateral knee pain around 30 degrees of knee flexion that worsens progressively with running. The Noble compression test over the lateral femoral epicondyle reproduces the pain, and Ober's test assesses IT band tightness. Foam rolling, hip strengthening, and running technique correction (reducing contralateral pelvic drop) are first-line management. Surgical IT band release or lengthening for refractory cases is rarely needed.
Repetitive friction at the lateral femoral epicondyle during running producing lateral knee pain at 30 degrees flexion managed with foam rolling, hip strengthening, and technique correction.
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