Runners with knee pain: did strengthening your hips actually fix it, or is that just internet advice?

I'm 38M, started running last year and got up to about 25km a week. Around month six the outside of my right knee started aching after 5km or so. Physio said it's probably IT band related and gave me clamshells, side planks and single-leg glute bridges. I've been doing them three times a week for four weeks. Pain is maybe a bit better but not gone, and I'm getting impatient. For people who had this: how long did it take before you noticed a real difference? Did you keep running through it or take a full break? Also curious if changing shoes did anything for you.