- The iliotibial band is a
sheath of muscle that runs vertically along the outer portion
of the leg starting at the hip/gluteus and ending just beneath
the knee.
- Overuse can result in
pain emanating from the outer portion of the knee or lower thigh.
Most often the athlete reacts by thinking of it as a knee injury because
of the pain location, rather than an inflammation of the muscle band.
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Causes
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- Predisposing
factors for the development of IT band inflammation include training error
and abnormal biomechanics. Some runners make the mistake of only running
on one side of the road. Most roads are higher in the center and slope off
on either side. The foot that is on the outside part of the road is
therefore lower than the other. This causes the pelvis to tilt to one side
and stresses the IT band.
- The biomechanical
abnormalities that may lead to IT band problems are, excessive
pronation of the foot, leg length discrepancy, lateral pelvic
tilt, and "bowed" legs. Tight gluteal or quadriceps
muscles may also contribute.
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Treatment
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- Video tape analysis is
a great tool for uncovering biomechanical problems.
- Also,
overtraining can be a factor.
- Curative
measures incorporate any or all of the following measures. 1) Rest
- Perhaps the most difficult prescription of all for athletes 2) Massage
- Like any muscle, activity tends to tighten it. The IT Band is no
different. A deep tissue sports massage can relax the band. 3) Medicine
- In extreme cases a physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication
to reduce but not cure the malady. Ibuprofen can help to a lesser
degree. 4) Stretching - Both curative and preventative
in nature, elongating the sheath with stretching movements is the best
approach in the long term. 5) Bio-Mechanical Correction
- Seek the advice of a qualified sports medicine clinic to perform a gait
analysis. This may determine whether orthotics or running form
adjustment is needed to help eliminate future recurrence.
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