IT Band treatments

With running season in full bloom many people experience knee, hip and shin pain. Much of this pain can be caused by an issue with the Iliotibial band or referred to as Iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS. If you or someone you know is or has suffered with ITBS you know just how painful and immobilizing it can be. You do not have to suffer with this pain, there are ways of eliminating it.

What It Is, What It Does, What Goes Wrong

The IT band begins in the hip as the tensor fascia latae muscle and has attachments at the origin from three different muscles: the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and vastus lateralis. The muscle becomes a fibrous band of tissue as it progresses down the thigh, then crosses the knee joint, and inserts along the lateral (outside) portion of the patella (knee cap) and into the tibia (shin) bone on a bump known as Gerdy’s Tubercle.

The classic symptoms of ITBS are pain along the lateral (outside) aspect of the knee joint, sometimes accompanied by a clicking sensation. The click is a result of the ITB tightening and snapping across the joint during running. The symptoms are often worse when running up or down hills.

ITBS is typically progressive, starting with tightness and often advancing to the point where the pain is debilitating. The traditional view on the cause of this injury has focused on the tightness of the structure and overtraining. There is no doubt that the ITB will become tighter when it is injured. The tightness, however, is more than likely a result of the injury and not the actual cause. The cause of this injury actually lies in the function of the ITB.

Treatment Options

Traditional treatment of ITBS has focused mainly on stretching. While stretching plays an important role in the treatment of this injury, there are several other forms of therapy that should be incorporated.

Deep tissue massage along the full length of the ITB can be started. Sometime referred to as mobilization of the tissues. Massage is a necessary step before moving on to the all-important third phase of strengthening the hip and thigh muscles.  Here at Strutura we recommend very frequent massage: up to every day for elites, and 2 or 3 times per week for recreational runners. If you cannot afford the expense or time a foam roller can work very well for self-massage.

Here at Structura Body Therapies we are concerned with the overall performance of the body and understand the importance of all areas of health and massage therapy. We are trained in Myofascial Release and look forward to introducing this type of treatment to you if it is the best form needed.  We treat patients with all types of needs from automobile accident related injuries to sports performance work.

Please contact us today for any information needed related to massage or structural integration. call us at 801-897-8711