Sidelying
If you wish to palpate on the skin, provide a sheet for cover. Ask the patient if he/she is willing to wear shorts and allow direct palpation on the skin. Provide a towel for between the lower limbs if the shorts have wide pant legs and the patientís modesty is compromised. While the skin can not be viewed with clothes covering the area, the iliotibial band should be palpable over clothing.
Posterior to the patient as the patient is in sidelying.
Please lie on your side. May I touch the side of your thigh? (or point to the demonstrated area). I am going to raise your top leg, move it back toward me and then gradually lower it.
Guide the patient to lie on his/her side. Raise the whole top lower limb, extend the hip and lower the whole
lower limb. The iliotibial band will be present as a tight band of deep connective tissue extending from the
tensor fascia lata to Gerdyís tubercle on the tibia. Palpate along the lateral thigh for this band.
VH - Iliotibial band