Ask a PT Response: "Recovery time is going to vary among patients and will depend on the severity of the injury. For my patients that I have seen who have a mild case of ITB syndrome they usually respond well to therapy and can usually recover within 3-4 wks. For patients that have a severe injury it usually takes up to 6 weeks or longer. In therapy I usually work with my patients on stretching not only the ITB but other muscles in the hips and legs, strengthening, running mechanics, icing, soft tissue mobilization/myofascial release, ultrasound, etc. In order for my patient to return to running I expect my patient to have full strength at the muscles of the injured leg and knee along with full range of motion without pain at the hip/knee. I would usually progress my patient from bike/walk -> ellipitcal/brisk walk ->jogging ->running. Having my patients return to running too soon before the injury has had time to heal can worsen the injury. If you would like to participate in the 1/2 marathon in October, it may be a good idea to start working with a physical therapist soon if your condition is not improving. Best of luck to you."