South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Anti-inflammatory and combined anti-inflammatory/analgesic medication in the early management of iliotibial band friction syndrome. A clinical trial.
Forty-three athletes presenting with unilateral iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) were randomly divided into three groups for the first 7 days of treatment (placebo-controlled, double-blind): 1--placebo (N = 13); 2--anti-inflammatory medication (N = 14) (Voltaren; Geigy); and 3--analgesic/anti-inflammatory combined medication (N = 16) (Myprodol; Rio Ethicals). All subjects rested from day 0 to day 7 and all groups received the same physiotherapy outpatient treatment programme from day 3 to day 7. On days 0, 3 and 7 the subjects performed a functional treadmill running test (maximum 30 minutes) during which they reported pain (scale 0-10; 0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain) each minute. ⋯ In contrast, during the running test only group 3 improved their total running time and distance from day 0 to day 7, whereas in all the groups the area under the pain v. time curve decreased from day 0 to day 7. All the other groups improved total running time and running distance from day 3 to day 7. All three treatment modalities are effective in the early treatment of ITBFS but physiotherapy in combination with analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication is superior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)