Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of iliotibial band (ITB) tightness and its association with sitting hours among female medical students of Karachi.
Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 383 medical students (aged between 18-28 years) only females were enrolled through non-probability convenient sampling. The study settings were Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIPMR), Dow University of Health and Sciences (DUHS) and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC). Researchers filled in the questionnaire and performed Ober’s test and Noble Compression test to assess ITB tightness. Data were analyzed through SPSS 22.
Results: The frequency of ITB tightness in female medical students showed 12.8% positive result when subjected to Ober's test, while 8.6% positive results during the Noble Compression test. There was no significant association between sitting hours and ITB tightness (p=0.52).
Conclusion: The frequency of ITB tightness among female medical students was found to be 8.6%-12.8% and the association between sitting hours and ITB tightness was not significant.

Key words: Iliotibial Band tightness, musculoskeletal pain, repetitive stress injury, Ober’s test.