Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) causes pain on the outside of the knee. It is common in runners and walkers, but it also appears in people who squat, lunge or climb stairs frequently without good hip control. The IT band is a thick band of connective tissue running from the outside of the hip to the outer knee. It does not “tighten” in the way a muscle does. Most of the time, the real issue is poor hip stability. ITBS is usually a load-management problem. Common contributors