What Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?

Do you know what is Iliotibial Band Syndrome or ITBS? To understand more about ITBS, it's essential to learn about the iliotibial band. The iliotibial band is a ligament that runs down the hip to the shin on the outside of the thigh. Working in conjunction with other thigh muscles, the iliotibial band offers stability to the knee joint. This band becomes narrow when it comes near the knee, and it can rub against the bone, causing inflammation.

ITBS is a common injury for serious runners, cyclists or hikers. When the leg is repeatedly turned inward, the iliotibial band is inflamed, and the result is Iliotibial Band Syndrome. This inflammation usually takes place on the outside of the knee joint at the end of the thigh bone where the lateral epicondyle is located. Under normal circumstances, the smooth gliding motion of the iliotibial band is facilitated a bursa which is found between the muscle and the bone. Once the iliotibial band is inflamed, it cannot glide quite as smoothly, resulting in pain in the knee. Since the pain occurs on the outside of the knee, many people who suffer from ITBS mistakenly assume that they have a knee injury.

One thing about ITBS is that it affects both amateur and seasoned athletes. When iliotibial band is inflamed, you will feel pain when you exert pressure on your knee joint. Some people stubbornly try to work through the pain but they will discover that the pain becomes more intense as they continue running, walking, or cycling as they exert more pressure on the knee joint. What are some of the symptoms of ITBS? The most common symptom of ITBS is the detection of pain on the outside of the knee. In the beginning stages, you may feel a pricking or stinging sensation, and then, you will feel some pain when your heel hits the ground. As the situation becomes worse, the pain may be so excruciating when you climb or descend a flight of stairs or even when you walk. In some cases, there will be a popping or snapping sensation when the knee is bent, and there may also be some swelling in the affected area.

How do you treat ITBS? The easiest treatment is rest. One of the main causes of ITBS is overexertion of the iliotibial band so it makes sense to rest the band to allow it to recuperate. Another treatment is to use ice on the affected area. This will help to settle the inflammation and relieve the pain. You have probably seen some professional athletes with ice packs on their knees so it's an effective treatment. There are also anti-inflammatory medications which may be helpful like naproxen and ibuprofen. It's best to consult your doctor before you take these medications because they may have side effects or interactions with other medications. Other types of treatments for ITBS include massage, physical therapy, and some special stretches or exercises. Depending on the severity of the ITBS, it can take weeks or months to recover fully so it requires a certain level of patience.