Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Individuals With Iliotibial Band Syndrome

June 19, 2026 updated by: Ahmed ElMelhat, Cairo University

Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Individuals With Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The goal of this Clinical Trial Study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Radial Electrocorporeal Shockwave Therapy (rESWT) combined with exercise in individuals with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).The main question it aims to answer is : Does the addition of rESWT to standard ITBS exercise program reduce pain intensity and pain pressure threshold while improving lower extremity function and hip muscle strength in Individuals with Iliotibial Band syndrome (ITBS). Participants will be divided into two groups to be compared : The ShamTherapy Group (Control Group) that will receive the standard ITBS exercise program in addition to Sham rESWT, while the experimental group will receive the standard ITBS exercise program in addition to Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The Iliotibial Band Syndrome is a frequently occurring overuse condition among runners and active individuals that often leads to persistent lateral knee pain and reduced function. Although exercise, particularly hip abductor strengthening, is considered effective, the optimal rehabilitation approach remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that combining Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy with exercise may improve pain and function more than exercise alone.Therefore, evaluating whether the combination of rESWT and exercise is more effective than exercise alone is clinically relevant.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Giza Governorate
      • Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt, 2356
        • Recruiting
        • Cairo university hospitals

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Physically active individuals aged 18 and 45 years
  • Have a clinical diagnosis of iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) confirmed by physician within the previous four weeks.
  • Report lateral knee pain during running or other functional activities
  • No history of direct trauma
  • Have a positive Noble compression or/and Ober test.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of knee surgery,fracture , meniscal or ligamentous injury within the past year
  • Any fracture involving the lower extremity within the previous six months
  • Neurological disorders
  • Lumbar radiculopathy
  • Systemic inflammatory disease
  • Any medical condition affecting gat or lower extremity function.
  • Have received corticosteroid injection, shockwave therapy, or physical therapy treatment for ITBS within the previous six months
  • Use of NDAID's or analgesics later than 2 weeks
  • Individuals with contraindications to ESWT, including pregnancy, bleeding disorders, or use of anticoagulant medication.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Sham rESWT and Standard ITBS Exercise Program
This group will receive Sham rESWT and standard ITBS Exercise Program that will include ITB stretching and strengthening exercises mainly targeting hip abductors, hip external rotators and knee extensors.
Other: Standard ITBS Exercise Program
Standard ITBS Exercise Program : Flexibility and Strengthening Exercises will be delivered three times weekly over a 4-week period
Device: Sham Extracorporal Shockwave Therapy
Sham Extracorporal Shockwave therapy will be administered once a week for 4 weeks.
Experimental: rESWT combined with exercise program
The experimental group will receive the same standard exercise program in addition to rESWT on the distal portion of the ITB and the region of lateral femoral condyle.
Other: Standard ITBS Exercise Program
Standard ITBS Exercise Program : Flexibility and Strengthening Exercises will be delivered three times weekly over a 4-week period
Device: Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy will be delivered once weekly for 4 weeks only.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numerical Pain Rating Scale Score (NPRS)
Time Frame: baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
To assess lateral knee pain intensity at rest and during activity Scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain)
baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lower extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)
Time Frame: baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
to assess the functional status of lower extremities. It consists of 20 items, each item is scored according to its difficulty : from 0 (extreme difficulty) to 4 (no difficulty),with a maximum score of 80 ( full function).
baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
Hip muscle strength dynamometer testing
Time Frame: baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
Hip ABD , ADD , IR and ER strength will be measured. Each strength will be measured twice using a hand held dynamometer . The mean value of the two values will be calculated.
baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
Pain Pressure Threshold algometry testing (PPT)
Time Frame: baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.
PPT is measured three times using algometry that applies a gradually increasing pressure over the lateral femoral condyle\distal ITB region until PPT is reached. The average of the 3 measurements will be calculated.
baseline , immediately after the 4-week intervention period ( post intervention ) ,4 weeks after the intervention cessation as follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ahmed El Melhat, PhD, Cairo University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 10, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • rESWT and exercises in ITBS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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