title: Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy compared with manual therapy in runners with iliotibial band syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although different conservative treatment options have been proposed, there is a paucity of research on the management of iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) in runners.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare two treatment protocols for ITBS; radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) and manual therapy (ManT). Both therapies were administered concurrently with an exercise rehabilitation programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a randomised controlled clinical trial. Twenty-four runners with ITBS received 3 treatments at weekly intervals of either RSWT (n= 11) or ManT (n= 13). In addition, all subjects followed an exercise programme for at least 4 weeks. Main outcome measures were established as mean differences (MD) in pain during treadmill running.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in pain reduction between the two interventions at 4 weeks (p= 0.796), and 8 weeks (p= 0.155) follow-up. Thus, both groups reported similar magnitude of reduced pain during the intervention (p= 0.864). The shockwave therapy (SWT) group reported a 51% decrease in pain at week 4 (p= 0.022), and a 75% decrease at week 8 (p= 0.004). The ManT group showed a 61% reduction in pain at week 4 (p= 0.059), and a 56% reduction at week 8 (p= 0.067).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RSWT and ManT were equally effective in reducing pain in subjects with ITBS.
authors.affiliation: IFK Mariehamn Fotboll, Wiklöf Holding Arena, Mariehamn, Finland.
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weckström
authors.affiliation: Muskelcentrum Uppsala AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Söderström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D058745:Iliotibial Band Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Iliotibial band syndrome; exercise therapy; manual therapies; running; shockwaves