Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome is a common injury for runners due to the repetitive movement that takes place when out running.
The ITB is a long band of strong connective tissue on the outside of the thigh, from the iliac crest of the pelvis to just below the knee on the tibia and helps to stabilize and move the knee. The ITB has to slide over a bony prominence near to the knee so has to be strong due to the movement. This can lead to pain and discomfort due to overuse.
Pain is predominantly felt just outside the knee and commonly appears after a certain distance is covered rather than in the early moments. If you have just taken up running or have increased mileage then you may experience ITB Syndrome.
There are many causes for ITB Syndrome so it is best to get professional help so that the cause can be identified. The source of the problem can be due to muscular imbalances, for example, weak hip and glute muscles as these muscles can cause the thigh to move abnormally with the result being that the ITB has to help support the leg.
It can be caused by several factors which are detailed in the ITB Syndrome document which can be found here on the Blog Downloads page.
Sports Massage & Soft Tissue Therapy can help to balance the leg muscles by using massage to help reduce tension, calm any inflammation and pain that is felt. I also include specific techniques such as Muscle Energy Technique (MET) to help restore balance to the muscles to their normal length and function as quickly as possible. Home care advice can also be given as to how the injury can be further rehabilitated and prevented in the future.
If you have experienced any soreness during running or post run soreness, pain or injury then please contact me for further information.
Below are screen prints detailing ITB Syndrome and how to help recover from the injury. Downloadable PDF documents can be found here.
The information contained within this post is solely for general information only. If you do pick up an injury (including 'tightness' 'irritation' or 'niggle') that you’re worried about then the sooner it’s treated the better.
Please contact me using one of the methods below if you would like to discuss how I can help you move with ease.
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