Musculoskeletal (MSK) Knee Practice Test

Iliotibial band syndrome causes pain on the outer (lateral) side of the knee from friction as the band moves over the lateral femoral epicondyle during repetitive knee bending. In a typical history, patients report lateral knee pain that starts or worsens with activity like running or cycling, especially with downhill work or long sessions, and it is most noticeable when the knee is in about 20–30 degrees of flexion because the IT band rubs over the bony point there. That combination—lateral knee pain that is activity-related and worsened around 30 degrees of knee flexion—is classic for IT band syndrome.

Other patterns fit different problems: medial knee pain points to medial structures, pain behind the knee with full flexion suggests a posterior issue like a popliteal region problem, and anterior knee pain near the patella points to patellofemoral pain. Thus, the lateral knee pain accentuated around 30 degrees of flexion best matches IT band syndrome.