Comparative Effectiveness of Dry Needling versus Manual Therapy Combined with a Structured Exercise Programme on Functional Recovery in Athletes with Iliotibial Band Syndrome

BackgroundIliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) is a common overuse injury among athletes that frequently results in impaired lower-extremity function and reduced sports participation. Although structured exercise programmes remain the cornerstone ofrehabilitation, adjunctive interventions such as Manual Therapy and Dry Needling are increasingly incorporated to improverehabilitation outcomes. Evidence comparing their effectiveness in restoring lower-extremity function, however, remainslimited.ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of Dry Needling combined with a structured exercise programme and Manual Therapy combinedwith the same exercise programme on lower-extremity functional recovery in athletes diagnosed with Iliotibial BandSyndrome.MethodsA prospective comparative interventional study was conducted among sixty athletes aged 18–40 years with clinicallydiagnosed Iliotibial Band Syndrome. Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A received ManualTherapy combined with a structured exercise programme, whereas Group B received Dry Needling combined with the identicalexercise programme. Treatment was administered five sessions per week for six weeks. Functional status was evaluated usingthe Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using pairedand independent t-tests, with statistical significance established at p < 0.05.ResultsBoth intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in lower-extremity function following six weeks ofrehabilitation (p < 0.001). The Manual Therapy group improved from 50.67 ± 3.93 to 57.47 ± 4.09, whereas the Dry Needlinggroup improved from 51.67 ± 3.93 to 66.60 ± 6.12. Between-group analysis demonstrated significantly greater functionalimprovement in participants receiving Dry Needling combined with structured exercise compared with Manual Therapycombined with exercise (p < 0.001).ConclusionBoth Manual Therapy and Dry Needling effectively improved lower-extremity function in athletes with Iliotibial BandSyndrome when combined with a structured exercise programme. However, Dry Needling produced significantly greaterfunctional recovery and may represent the preferred adjunctive intervention for optimizing rehabilitation outcomes andfacilitating return to sport.