Got Knee Pain? How To Tell If You Have Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band Syndrome is one of the more common causes of knee pain

. IT band pain occurs in runners and other endurance athletes. While there can be many different causes of knee pain, iliotibial band syndrome

Iliotibial band syndrome is an overuse injury.

Most cases of IT band syndrome occur gradually over time due to overuse, poor running biomechanics, poor bike fit, or too little recovery in between workouts. You may notice that you begin to develop slight discomfort or mild pain to the outside part of the knee towards the end of a run or after you cool down after a workout. The pain from the iliotibial band will typically slowly become more frequent and more intense or severe over time.

Iliotibial band syndrome pain occurs on the outside of the knee

The iliotibial band is a broad piece of fascial or fibrous tissue that starts up in the hip and extends down the outside of the thigh and attaches just below the knee joint. The typical athlete with iliotibial band syndrome will have pain to the outside part of the knee where the iliotibial band crosses over a bump on the thigh bone called the lateral femoral condyle of the femur. Sometimes, runners will have hip pain instead of knee pain with iliotibial band syndrome. In these cases where they have hip pain, the iliotibial band is irritated by the greater trochanter of the femur and may cause a condition called greater trochanter bursitis.

There usually is not knee swelling with iliotibial band syndrome

Since IT band syndrome is more of a tendonitis or tendinopathy (irritation of the tendon), there typically is not much swelling of the knee joint. Swelling of the knee may mean that you have a tear or damage to the cartilage or mensicus of the knee or damage to one of the ligaments in the knee such as the anterior cruciate ligament or the medial collateral ligament.

Iliotibial band syndrome should improve with proper physical therapy

Most cases of iliotibial band syndrome should improve with a well-structured physical therapy program with IT band exercises that focus on strengthening the hip and the leg.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome pain should be worse with bending the knee

Because of the anatomy of the iliotibial band, when you flex and extend the knee, the IT band will rub across the lateral femoral condyle and cause more pain, especially with just slightly bending the knee about 30 degrees from a straightened position.

If you think you have iliotibial band pain, see a qualified sports medicine physician to help you with proper diagnosis and with developing a treatment plan to get you back running and working out again!

by: John Michaels

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