Iliotibial Band Syndrome

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..

Common causes for the onset of IT Band Syndrome are running exclusively on a crowned surface, congenital imbalance of leg length, or over-training.  All three causes are correctible once the syndrome is correctly identified. 

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.