Seventeen athletes presenting with uni-lateral iliotibial band friction syndrome were randomly divided into two treatment groups (A and B) from days 3 to 14 of treatment. Subjects in both treatment groups rested from days 0 to 14 and received daily stretching and twice-daily ice therapy. Ultrasound treatment and stretching were added in both groups from days 3 to 14. Deep transverse frictions were administered only to subjects in group A from days 3 to 14. On days 0, 3, 7 and 14 all the subjects performed a functional treadmill running test (max 30 min) during which they reported pain each minute. Total pain and the percentage of maximal pain experienced during running, were calculated. Conventional daily 24-hour recall pain scores were also recorded and mean scores were calculated for the treatment periods days 0 to 2, days 3 to 6 and days 7 to 14. The 24-hour recall pain scores, total pain during running and the percentage maximum pain decreased significantly for both the groups over the treatment period (p < 0.05). However, there were no differences observed between the two groups. The addition of deep transverse frictions to an established baseline physiotherapy programme of rest, ice, stretches and ultrasound is not recommended in the management of iliotibial band friction syndrome.

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