Iliotibial Band Syndrome
What is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the connective tissue or ligament extending from the pelvic bone to the shinbone tightens to rub against the thighbone. Knee flexion is the primary generator for this movement. The syndrome is typically found in distance runners. Surgery is sometimes needed to fix the issue, but with the right treatments is not always necessary.
If the syndrome is severe, stretching, ice and a regular exercise routine will not typically assist to fix the problem if it is still ongoing after two weeks. Our Chiropractors can assist in reducing the symptoms of the syndrome by checking if your pelvis is aligned correctly. Failing this, our Chiropractors can perform spinal adjustments to ensure that the pelvis is more functional.
Tips for preventing Iliotibial Band Syndrome
If you’re a person at risk of suffering from iliotibial band syndrome, there are several ways to go about reducing the chance of your pelvis needing chiropractic assistance:
- Always warm up before exercising – warming up will help reduce the muscle soreness throughout your body but will also ensure that your ligaments such as the IT band are prepared correctly for use during a workout.
- Don’t overdo it – pushing yourself is always a good thing, but never do too much too quickly. If you’re experiencing pain, you should stick with what you can do with reasonable comfort. If you’re needing to run 5km for example, start at a lower amount and work up to it over time.
- Use a foam roller – a great tool post-workout, a foam roller is will help you stretch your muscles out if you are experiencing tightness. Ask your Chiropractor for a demonstration.
- Change your running shoes regularly – worn shoes absorb less shock which can lead to a greater impact on the rest of the leg, thus leading to a potential increase of IT band pain. Runners should ensure their shoes shock absorbing cushion is optimal before running.
- Keep the knee covered and warm – many injuries occur during the winter months, with most IT band injuries occurring when the temperature falls below 15c. It is also important to cool down and stretch after exercise.
The success of treatments will depend on the individual and the techniques being used by our chiropractors. Success is also linked to how long the patient has experienced the symptoms, the amount of degeneration occurring in the patient and on what type of pain the patient is experiencing.