The Potential Impact of Myofascial Release Therapy on Iliotibial Band Syndrome: A Preliminary Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: I liotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a prevalent overuse injury among athletes, causing lateral knee pain and functional impairment. While hip strength training is commonly used for ITBS management, the adjunctive role of myofascial release (MFR) remains underexplored. This study investigated whether combining MFR with hip strength training enhances outcomes in pain relief, iliotibial band (ITB) thickness reduction, and functional improvement compared to hip strength training alone. Methods: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 16 patients with ITBS (mean age 22.2 ± 1.6 years) were stratified by gender and allocated to an experimental group (MFR + hip strength training, n=8) or a control group (hip strength training alone, n=8). Interventions were delivered twice weekly for 4 weeks, with assessments at baseline, weeks 2, 4 (post-intervention), and week 8 (follow-up). Primary outcomes included pain (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), ITB thickness (ultrasound imaging), and functional performance (Kujala scale). Mixed-model factorial ANOVA analyzed group-by-time interactions. Results: The experimental group showed significantly greater reductions in pain at week 2 (F=10.000, P=0.007) and ITB thickness at week 4 (F=8.163, P=0.013) compared to controls. No between-group differences were observed in functional performance (F=0.579, P=0.542). Both groups improved over time in all outcomes (P<0.001), but MFR provided earlier pain relief and greater structural improvement. Conclusions: MFR combined with hip strength training accelerates pain reduction and ITB thickness normalization in ITBS patients, though functional gains were comparable between groups. These findings support MFR as a valuable adjunct to standard care, potentially mitigating recurrence risk through tissue remodeling. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to optimize MFR protocols. Trial registration: The trail was prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 09/05/2024 (reference no.ChiCTR2400084034).