EFFECT OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE WITH AND WITHOUT EMMETT TECHNIQUE IN ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME

F. Altaf¹, R. Noor², S. Bashir², S. Sabeeh Awan³

Background: Iliotibial band (ITB) is a lateral thickening of fascia lata in the thigh. Overuse of muscles associated with iliotibial tract produces friction between iliotibial tract and lateral condyle of femur. This causes swelling of iliotibial tract and the area becomes tender or painful. This is called iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). This causes fascia above it to arrange itself in direction of force and fascial restriction is developed. These fascial restrictions cause pain, reduced range of motion of hip adductors and strength of lower limb. Physical therapy can give better results in this aspect.

Purpose: To find the effects of myofascial release with and without Emmett technique in patients with iliotibial band syndrome.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial was conducted on twenty-two patients of iliotibial band syndrome in in Saba’s Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation and sports injury clinic 25/H Gulberg 3, Lahore.  All were randomly allocated to either myofascial group or myofascial with Emmett technique group. Both groups were treated for three weeks. NPRS, goniometer and vertical jump test were used to measure the treatment effect before treatment, after week 1, week 2 and week 3.

Results: Findings revealed that there was statistically significant difference within group analysis (p<0.05) and in between group analysis result shows statistically significant difference in range of motion (p<0.05) and there was no statistically significant difference in NPRS and vertical jump test (p>0.05).

Conclusion(s): The study concluded that both myofascial release and myofascial release with Emmett technique were equally effective in reducing pain, increasing range of motion of hip adductors and strength of lower limbs in patients with iliotibial band syndrome.

Implications: This study is providing literature in favor of Emmett technique which was originally invented in Australia. This is a technique for releasing soft tissue restrictions in a pain free way. This technique is easy to apply and is going to be helpful for physiotherapist in releasing fascial adhesions and restrictions.

Funding, acknowledgements: There is no funding organization in this study.

Keywords: Myofascial release technique, Emmett Technique, Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Riphah International University, Quaid e Azam Campus Lahore.

Committee: Ethical committee of Riphah International University Lahore. Reference number REC/RCRS/20/1008

Ethics number: REC/RCRS/20/1008