THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION USING TIDIER CHECKLIST ON ADULTS WITH ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME. A SYSTEMATIC SCOPING REVIEW

I. Christofi¹, C. Karagiannis¹, C. Savva¹, G. Ploutarchou¹

¹European University of Cyprus, Health Science, Physiotherapy, Nicosia, Cyprus

Background: Iliotibial Band Syndrome is a non-traumatic overuse injury, typically characterized by pain on the outside of the knee and thigh. Physiotherapy remains one of the main conservative interventions suggested and used for the treatment of this injury. However, the optimal kind of physical therapy and its effectiveness on these patients has not been fully defined yet.

Purpose: The present scoping review aims to include all RCT’s and Clinical Trials (CT’s) that exist in the literature, in order to investigate the role of physiotherapy in adults with ITBS through the following review questions:
1. What PI have been reported for the treatment for patients with ITBS?
2. What intervention parameters and outcome measures have been used in published studies?

Methods: Five electronic database were searched. Review selected studies was with patients with iliotibial syndrome. Clinical trials and/or randomized controlled trials published in English have been included. The concept of interest is the role of physiotherapy intervention in the management of pathology. Context of this scoping review was to identify the types of available evidence and examine how research is conducted in the effectiveness and characteristics of physiotherapy on patients with iliotibial syndrome.

Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Results from 173 patients reported that moderate evidence of physiotherapy intervention as a multimodal approach can be effective alone or as effective as combined with medication for pain and functionality in patients with iliotibial syndrome. Multimodal approach suggests to include manual therapy (Mobilization with movement, deep transverse friction), physical modality (shockwave or ultrasound), stretching techniques (iliotibial band and core muscles) and exercise (strengthening of hip muscles). However, the overall reporting quality of physiotherapy intervention was typically poor. Only 40% of the studies described the duration of the intervention, Furthermore, in 6 (60%), 4 (40%) and 2 (20%) studies, the intervention was tailored, delivered as planned and modified during the treatment respectively. It’s worth noting that in no study (0%) the adherence or fidelity of the intervention was assessed.

Conclusions: Conclusions: Physiotherapy in a multimodal approach should be a first line treatment in management of patients with iliotibial syndrome. Further research through well-designed randomized controlled trials is required to elucidate the efficacy of physiotherapy and the proper parameters for this approach in adults with ITBS, both in comparison and combination with other treatments.

Implications: Implication: Physiotherapy can be considered safe for adults with iliotibial syndrome. Intervention suggested to be multimodal as descripted above and at least 8 weeks long for 2 times per week.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding

Keywords:
Iliotibial syndrome
Physiotherapy
Pain

Topics:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Musculoskeletal
Sport & sports injuries

Did this work require ethics approval? No

Reason: Due to systematic review ethic approval not needed