Comparison between Iliotibial Band and Lateral Patellar Retinaculum Stretching on Lateral Patellar Shift in Young Females

Introduction: Patellar malalignment, particularly lateral patellar shift, is a common contributor to patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), especially among young females. It results from imbalanced forces acting on the patella, often due to tight lateral structures such as the iliotibial band (ITB) and lateral patellar retinaculum. Addressing these imbalances through targeted stretching may help restore normal patellar tracking and prevent PFPS Objectives: To compare the effect of Iliotibial Band (ITB) stretching and Lateral Patellar Retinaculum (LPR) stretching on reducing lateral patellar shift in females. Methods: Twenty female participants aged 17–24 years with lateral patellar shift were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (ITB stretching) and Group B (LPR stretching). Participants underwent 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks, with 3 repetitions per session. Lateral patellar shift was measured pre- and post-intervention using a Vernier caliper in a supine lying position. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS; unpaired t-tests were applied with a significance level set at p<0.05. Results: Both groups showed a reduction in lateral patellar shift post-intervention. However, the difference in improvement between Group A and Group B was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both ITB and LPR stretching were found to be equally effective in reducing lateral patellar shift. This suggests that addressing either of the tight lateral structures may help in improving patellar alignment Conclusions: Both ITB and LPR stretching significantly reduced lateral patellar shift in young females. Since no significant difference was found between them, either technique can be effectively used to address patellar malalignment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v15.4.9329