{"id":9790,"date":"2026-04-15T00:05:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T08:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=9790"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:12:23","slug":"comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band","title":{"rendered":"COMLEX\u00ae Question of the Day:\u00a0Tight iliotibial band"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\/#The_correct_answer_to_todays_OMM%C2%AE_Question_is%E2%80%A6\" >The correct answer to today\u2019s OMM\u00ae Question is\u2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\/#Incorrect_Answer_Explanations\" >Incorrect Answer Explanations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\/#Main_Explanation\" >Main Explanation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\/#Major_Takeaway\" >Major Takeaway&nbsp;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\/#Want_to_learn_more_about_this_topic\" >Want to learn more about this topic?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Osmosis regularly shares an OMM-style practice question to test your medical knowledge. What test needs to be performed to determine if a tight iliotibial band is responsible for a 27-year-old patient&#8217;s knee pain.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 27-year-old female present to the office with right knee pain for the past week. The pain gradually has increased with use over the past week and is located to the outer right knee. She has been training for a marathon and recently increased the number of miles she is running. She does not recall any trauma to the knee, swelling, or redness. Physical exam shows no focal neurological findings, no knee effusion, negative anterior and posterior drawer tests, and a negative McMurray test. There is pain on palpation of the lateral right knee. Osteopathic structural exam shows an anterior right innominate, a left inflare somatic dysfunction, and a posterior right fibular head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If this patient\u2019s symptoms are from a tight iliotibial band, which of the following tests can be performed to confirm this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A. Flex the knee, abduct, and extend the hip. Assess if the thigh remains abducted<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>B. Flex, abduct, and externally rotate the hip. Assess for pain around the hip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>C. Flex the right knee and hip into the chest. Assess for the left leg lifting off the table<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>D. Flex, adduct, and internally rotate the hip. Assess for reproducible pain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>E. Stand on the right leg. Assess if the left hip drops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Scroll down for the correct answer!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_correct_answer_to_todays_OMM%C2%AE_Question_is%E2%80%A6\"><\/span>The correct answer to today\u2019s OMM\u00ae Question is\u2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>A. Flex the knee, abduct, and extend the hip. Assess if the thigh remains abducted<\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Before we get to the Main Explanation, let\u2019s look at the incorrect answer explanations. Skip to the bottom if you want to learn more about the correct answer right away!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Incorrect_Answer_Explanations\"><\/span>Incorrect Answer Explanations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>B. Flex, abduct, and externally rotate the hip. Assess for pain around the hip.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Incorrect:<\/strong> This describes Patrick (FABERE test) which is used to assess for conditions that affect the sacroiliac and hip joint. Pain with this motion indicates general pathology of the hip, such as osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>C. Flex the right knee and hip into the chest. Assess for the left leg lifting off the table.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Incorrect:<\/strong> This describes a Thomas test which assesses for a flexion contracture of the iliopsoas muscle. The question stem asks for a test to assess the iliotibial band, not the iliopsoas muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>D. Flex, adduct, and internally rotate the hip. Assess for reproducible pain.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Incorrect:<\/strong> This describes the FAIR test which is used to assess sciatic nerve irritation secondary to piriformis spasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>E. Stand on the right leg. Assess if the left hip drops<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Incorrect:<\/strong> This describes the Trendelenburg test which assesses the gluteus medius strength. If the hip drops, the test is positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Main_Explanation\"><\/span>Main Explanation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ober test assesses for a tight iliotibial band, which is a common injury in runners. This test involves flexing the knee, and abducting and extending the hip. Then allow for passive adduction of the hip. If the hip does not adduct and\/or there is onset of pain, then the test is positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iliotibial band syndrome often presents with pain above the lateral aspect of the knee joint, partly because of its insertion point. The origin is at the anterior aspect of the iliac crest and insertion is on the proximal lateral tibia. Not only does it act to extend, abduct, and externally rotate the hip, but it also acts as a knee stabilizer. It is thought that the constant flexion\/extension of the knee can lead to irritation and inflammation of the IT band, such as with running, biking, and hiking. Oftentimes IT band syndrome is best treated with rest and NSAIDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"913\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?w=1024\" alt=\"Illustration demonstrating the Ober test for iliotibial band tightness. A patient lies on their side while the examiner moves the upper leg into extension and allows it to drop. A negative result shows the leg lowering toward the table, while a positive result shows the leg remaining elevated, indicating tightness.\" class=\"wp-image-9793\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.121592709984152;width:455px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png 2363w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?resize=300,268 300w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?resize=768,685 768w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?resize=1024,913 1024w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?resize=1536,1370 1536w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Ober-test-OMM.png?resize=2048,1827 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Takeaway\"><\/span>Major Takeaway&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ober test\u00a0evaluates for\u00a0<strong>tightness in the iliotibial band<\/strong>. The test involves <strong>knee flexion while abducting and extending the hip<\/strong>.\u00a0The leg is then allowed to adduct passively.\u00a0<strong>If the leg\u00a0fails to\u00a0adduct or there is pain present, the test is positive<\/strong>, suggestive of IT band pathology.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_learn_more_about_this_topic\"><\/span>Want to learn more about this topic?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Watch this Osmosis video: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Special_tests_for_the_lower_limb\">Special tests for the lower limb<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\/do\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/hm-healthdigital-multisite.go-vip.net\/osmosisblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/health-sci-mo-ad.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/health-sci-mo-ad.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/health-sci-mo-ad.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Want more <strong>OMM practice questions<\/strong>? Try <strong>Osmosis from Elsevier<\/strong> today! Access your&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\/do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>free trial<\/strong><\/a><\/em>&nbsp;and discover why millions of current and future <strong>clinicians and caregivers love learning by Osmosis<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When IT band pain crops up in runners, a practical approach matters. Learn how DO clinicians structure history, apply key exam clues, and design conservative treatment plans that help athletes recover without unnecessary downtime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":9795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11,20,34,16],"tags":[489,1076,2918,886,2912,2916,2911,2917,84,2868,645,2913,569,257,2914,2915,638],"class_list":["post-9790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comlex","category-exam-prep","category-omm","category-do","tag-clinical-reasoning","tag-comlex","tag-conservative-treatment","tag-exam-prep","tag-iliotibial-band-syndrome","tag-imaging-indications","tag-it-band","tag-knee-pain","tag-medical-education","tag-nbme","tag-omm","tag-orthopedics","tag-physical-examination","tag-rehabilitation","tag-running-injuries","tag-special-tests","tag-sports-medicine"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>COMLEX\u00ae Question of the Day:\u00a0Tight iliotibial band - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COMLEX\u00ae Question of the Day:\u00a0Tight iliotibial band - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When IT band pain crops up in runners, a practical approach matters. Learn how DO clinicians structure history, apply key exam clues, and design conservative treatment plans that help athletes recover without unnecessary downtime.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-15T08:05:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T21:12:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/COMLEX-OMM-Question-of-the-Day-tight-iliotibial-it-band.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rowan Bell, MD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rowan Bell, MD\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/87786c55677ccd769cb76475a1c7af25\"},\"headline\":\"COMLEX\u00ae Question of the Day:\u00a0Tight iliotibial band\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T08:05:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-20T21:12:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\"},\"wordCount\":727,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/COMLEX-OMM-Question-of-the-Day-tight-iliotibial-it-band.png\",\"keywords\":[\"clinical reasoning\",\"COMLEX\",\"conservative treatment\",\"exam prep\",\"iliotibial band syndrome\",\"imaging indications\",\"IT band\",\"knee pain\",\"medical education\",\"NBME\",\"OMM\",\"orthopedics\",\"physical examination\",\"rehabilitation\",\"running injuries\",\"special tests\",\"sports medicine\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Comlex\",\"Exam Prep\",\"OMM\",\"Osteopathic Medicine (DO)\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/comlex-question-of-the-day-tight-iliotibial-band\",\"name\":\"COMLEX\u00ae Question of the Day:\u00a0Tight iliotibial band - 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