ILIOTIBIAL BAND SYNDROME IN CYCLISTS

Iliotibial band syndrome is an overuse injury caused by repetitive fri ction of the iliotibial band across the lateral femoral epicondyle. On ce considered an injury indigenous to runners, it is now frequently be ing seen in cyclists. The purpose of this paper is to identify iliotib ial band syndrome as a significant problem in cyclists and to propose both operative and nonoperative measures for treating cyclists. Nonope rative measures specific to cyclists consist of bicycle adjustments an d training modifications. These are adjunctive therapies to stretching , icing, rest, and oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. For cycli sts requiring operative intervention, a new surgical technique for exc ising or releasing the distal iliotibial band is presented. This techn ique, used by the senior author (JCH) since 1984, involves excision of an elliptical piece of the distal posterior band off the lateral femo ral epicondyle.