Effects of routine physical therapy with and without core stability in improving pain, functional mobility and quality of life in patients with iliotibial band syndrome

Primary aim of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of core stability exercises with and without routine physical therapy (RPT) on pain and functional mobility in patients with iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome. Secondary aim, evaluate effectiveness of core stability exercises on quality of life in iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)

Single center, parallel group, concealed, double blind, randomized controlled trial of 40 participants

University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Lahore. Participants and outcome assessor blinded.

Participants were included if age between 18-50 years in both the gender, presence of local tenderness over the lateral epicondyle, positive noble compression test and modified ober’s test. Participants with systemic illness, peripheral nerve involvement and any type of Arthritis in lower limb, Tumor and history of previous knee trauma and surgery were excluded.

In control group participants follows RPT that includes 1- Specific stretching exercises of ITB, tensor fascia latae, and gluteus medius 2- Soft tissue and medial patella mobilizations 3- Active release soft-tissue mobilization and myofascial release 5- Strengthening exercises for ITBS 6- Cryotherapy, Phonophoresis, While interventional group participants follow RPT and core stability exercise , which includes: Transversus abdominus (30 reps with 8s hold) Bracing with heel slides, Abdominal bracing, bridging, standing, standing row, walking, leg lifts. Paraspinals/multifidi (30 reps with 8s hold). Quadruped legs lifts and arm lifts with bracing, Quadruped alternate legs and arms lifts with bracing. Quadratus lumborum and obliques (30 reps with 8s hold). Side plank with knees flexed and extended Trunk curl

Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Lower Extremity Functional Scale

This study was designed to be a parallel group randomized controlled trial. Random numbers were generated, without stratification, from 1-40 using an online random numbers generator in two sets by an independent statistician. Set 1 was assigned routine physical therapy and set 2 was assigned core stability exercises and routine physical therapy. Opaque, sealed envelope method was used to randomly assign patients (in a 1:1 ration) into both groups and unsealed by a researcher after baseline testing. Outcome assessors were unaware of group assignment.

After randomisation, patients were told about their treatment regime by their therapist, keeping blind about the other group treatment. Patients were only informed about treatment programme similarities in both groups (soft tissue, cryotherapy, stretching and strengthening exercises). Both treatment programmes were tailored to the patient’s abilities to make sure all eligible patients could complete the trial. Outcome assessors and data analyzers were masked to group allocation. Patients were told not to talk about the treatment protocol they were given during the trial with the outcome assessors and could contact their therapist in case of any problems during trial participation. Besides, if two or more study participants were in the clinic at the same time, they were assigned to different treatment areas without any opportunity to observe each other or their treatment times were rearranged to prevent unintended crossover.

There is no further information

Study protocol, statistical analysis plan, informed consent form will be shared for primary and secondary outcome measure with interested research after considering the ethics and confidentiality.

Data will be available after 9 months of publication for 2 consecutive years.

Data will only be shared with individual researcher and academic researchers working with sports/orthopedic injuries. Data will not be shared for any commercial purposes/businesses for any reasons.

Data can be used under confidentiality and medical ethics

Data can be obtained by emailing at rabiasaeed534@gmail.com.

Simple email can do this. But this can take up to 6 weeks depends on busy schedule of researcher.