Runners Knee, ITB syndrome, IT Band, Iliotibial Band Syndrome

What is Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome?

ITB syndrome (also known as runner’s knee), is where a tendon called the iliotibial band gets irritated or swollen from compression against the lower end of your thigh (femur) bone where it attaches onto your knee. This compression causes friction resulting in inflammation and pain.

It’s a common overuse injury, often caused by activities where you bend your knee repeatedly, like running, cycling, hiking, and walking long distances.

What is Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome?

ITB syndrome (also known as runner’s knee), is where a tendon called the iliotibial band gets irritated or swollen from compression against the lower end of your thigh (femur) bone where it attaches onto your knee. This compression causes friction resulting in inflammation and pain.

What is the Iliotibial Band? The iliotibial band is a thickened band of deep fascia that runs down the lateral (outside) surface of the leg, and it goes from the top of your pelvic bone down to below your knee. Its primary function is to stabilize the hip and knee, and provide lateral support to the lower limb. This allows for a strong pillar-like structure on which we can stand (especially if standing on one leg) and helps to stabilize the pelvis during locomotion. It also supports movements of the hip and knee through the action of the gluteus maximus and tensor fasciae latae muscles. These muscles actually insert into the ITB.

Anatomy of the Iliotibial band At the top of your thigh the Iliotibial Band is attached to your tensor fascia latae (TFL) muscle, and gluteus maximus and at the bottom it connects to your tibia (lower leg bone) and also your femoral condyle on the lower outside portion of the thigh bone (femur).

What are the Symptoms of Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

The main symptom of ITB syndrome is a sharp pain, burning or ache on the outside of your knee, which may spread down your leg, and occasionally up towards your hip. The outside of your knee may be tender to the touch and you may have some swelling. The pain is often worse when you run downhill, or if you run or cycle for longer than you normally would. You may find that the pain starts at a similar point in your run or cycle, and goes shortly after you stop.

Usually, you’ll only feel pain when you do the aggravating activity. But if the problem continues and gets worse, it can start to affect you even when you just go for a walk, bend, do stairs, or sit with your knees bent.

There are varying degrees of severity of ITB Syndrome.

The most common symptoms include: Sharp or burning pain just above the joint line, on the outer part of the knee.

• Pain that worsens with a continuance of running or other repetitive activities

• Swelling over the outside of the knee.

• Pain going down hill or walking downstairs.

• Gradual onset of symptoms which if they persist for greater than four weeks can cause significant sport or activity interference.

• Tenderness to touch on the bone on the outside of your knee.

THE TOP 5 REASONS TO GET CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR "IT BAND/RUNNER'S KNEE"

Are you a passionate runner looking to improve your performance, or want to treat a injury, prevent injuries or want to improve your over all health and wellness? If so, chiropractic care can help keep your body aligned and functioning optimally, but it can also aid in reducing inflammation and improving joint mobility. The top five reasons why you should consider incorporating chiropractic care into their routine for better overall health and performance.

Injury Prevention

Chiropractic care can play a key role in keeping you healthy and injury-free. Chiropractors understand the musculoskeletal system and how different parts of the body work together. By performing adjustments on various joints and vertebrae throughout the body, they can help ensure that everything is properly aligned and functioning optimally.

This alignment allows for proper weight distribution throughout the body during running, walking, every day living while reducing stress on any one particular area.

By regularly receiving chiropractic adjustments, you may also avoid developing imbalances within your body that could lead to more significant issues down the road.

Improved Performance

By receiving regular adjustments, runners can see improvements in their speed, endurance, and overall performance.

When you run, your body experiences a lot of impact and stress on its joints and muscles. This can cause misalignments in the spine and other areas of the body that may lead to pain or discomfort while running. Through chiropractic adjustments, these misalignments can be corrected which allows for better joint mobility, improved balance, coordination and range of motion necessary for optimal athletic performance.

Additionally, chiropractic care helps reduce muscle tension throughout the body so that runners experience less fatigue during training sessions or races. When our bodies are aligned properly through regular chiropractic care it leads to increased energy levels meaning we have more stamina during long runs.

Decreased Inflammation

Inflammation can be your worst enemy. It can slow you down, cause pain and discomfort and even lead to more serious injuries if left untreated. But chiropractic care may offer a solution.

One of the top benefits of chiropractic care is decreased inflammation. Chiropractors use various techniques to reduce inflammation in the body, including spinal adjustments and soft tissue therapy.

Spinal adjustments can help improve joint mobility by realigning the spine which helps to reduce pressure on nerves that contribute to inflammation. Soft tissue therapy involves manipulating muscles and other soft tissues to break up adhesions, or knots, which can also contribute to inflammation.

Increased Joint Mobility

Joint mobility is crucial to your overall performance. When your joints are not mobile enough, it can lead to pain and discomfort that may affect your running form and speed and every day activity and living.

Getting chiropractic care can help increase joint mobility by addressing any misalignments in your spine or other areas of the body that may be affecting joint function. I use various techniques such as adjustments, stretches, and exercises to improve joint mobility.

It's important to note that improving joint mobility doesn't happen overnight. It requires consistent effort over time with regular chiropractic visits and following recommended exercises.

Faster Recovery Time

Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to prevent injuries, improve performance, decrease inflammation, increase joint mobility, and speed up their recovery time. By addressing the root cause of pain and discomfort in the body through spinal adjustments, chiropractors can help you achieve optimal health and wellness.