Columbia's Top Physical Therapists for IT Band Syndrome
Lateral knee and hip pain doesn't resolve on its own when you're still trying to train. Salerno Sports Therapy offers IT band syndrome physical therapy in Columbia for runners and active adults who want to find the root cause and build back stronger.
The IT Band Pain That Won't Stay Away
You've Tried Rest and It Came Back
You back off for two weeks and the tightness eases. The moment your mileage climbs back, the lateral knee pain is right back at mile three. The movement pattern driving it never got addressed.
Foam Rolling Only Gets You So Far
You roll your IT band before every run and it helps for a few minutes. The tightness comes back because foam rolling manages the symptom — it doesn't fix what is actually overloading the band.
You're Training Around It Instead of Through It
You dropped your long run, switched to the bike, and started icing religiously. The pain is manageable but your fitness is slipping and you still don't know what's actually wrong.
IT Band PT Built to Get You Back to Running
We do not guess with IT band pain. We assess hip mechanics, running form, and loading strategy to find what is overloading the band — then build a hands-on and strength-based plan to fix it. Every session is one-on-one and built around your training.
From Pain to Performance in Three Steps
Talk with us
Schedule a free discovery call so we can learn about your goals, training, and what's been holding you back.
Get your assessment
Complete a full movement and strength assessment with sport-specific testing like running gait analysis or a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) golf screen.
Follow your plan
Work through one-on-one, exercise-first sessions that build strength, restore confidence, and get you back to your sport.
What Columbia Runners Are Saying
Hear from Columbia runners who addressed IT band syndrome and got back to the mileage that matters.
For people of all ages and skill levels, preparation and recovery are key! Dr. Salerno has provided me with all the pre and post round exercises/stretches I need to keep myself in "playing" shape. I highly recommend giving SST a call!
Jay and the team at Salerno Sports Therapy have always provided me great service. Whether it's a small nagging injury or a bigger problem, Jay has the knowledge to not only get me feeling better but make sure it doesn't happen again and I can keep doing the things I love to do
Jay is awesome! He has been instrumental in solving my knee pain and issues while marathon training. He is incredibly knowledgeable and gave me a full strategy to fix my current problems and work to prevent them in the future!
SST was key to my training and prep for my first half marathon. Jay helped me stay injury free as I ramped up the intensity of my runs, and he was willing to help me remotely when I couldn't make in person sessions.
Very professional and highly recommend! I went to see Jay after a week off running due to injury. I had the Chicago marathon approaching in about 2 weeks and really wanted to be healthy and run. Jay worked hard and diligently to get me ready for the marathon — in a short time— and I was able to run the marathon, snag a PR & BQ. Jay continued to work with me post marathon to make sure I had the tools to keep my hips healthy and stronger. I’m happy with my decision to choose Salerno Sports Therapy for my PT needs!
Jay has done an outstanding job working with me. I came to him with bilateral elbow pain and have left with no more pain! He is extremely thorough with his initial evaluation in order to prescribe you with the best possible care. I would highly recommend Salerno Sports Therapy to anyone with any nagging aches and pains OR if you want to prevent those nagging aches and pains from happening. Give Jay a call!
Serving Columbia and more
We're located in Columbia and serve active adults and athletes across Forest Acres, Shandon, Heathwood, Melrose Heights, and the greater Columbia area. If you're looking for performance-focused physical therapy near you, we're here to help.
FAQs
Questions about IT band syndrome physical therapy in Columbia.
IT band syndrome typically comes from hip weakness, poor loading mechanics, or a spike in training volume — not a tight IT band itself. The IT band cannot actually stretch, so the real target is the hip strength and movement patterns that are overloading it during your runs.
In most cases, yes. We build your plan around keeping you running whenever it is safe to do so. If mileage or intensity needs to change temporarily, we will tell you exactly what to modify and why, so you stay fit while we address the root cause.
Most doctors tell you to rest, ice, and stretch. We run a movement assessment to find what is actually overloading the IT band — usually hip weakness or a mechanics issue — and build a plan to fix it so it does not keep coming back.
It depends on how long the issue has been there and what is driving it. Many people notice meaningful progress within three to four sessions. Addressing the root cause rather than resting through flare-ups is what determines whether the fix sticks.
We are out-of-network by choice so we can work without insurance-driven restrictions on session length or what we include. We provide superbills you can submit for possible reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits, but we do not bill directly.
Still have questions?
Reach out and we'll walk you through how it works.
Ready to Run Without IT Band Pain?
Schedule a free discovery call and let's find out what is driving it and build a plan to fix it.
