What is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?
Iliotibial band syndrome is also known as ITBFS, ITBS or Iliotibial band friction syndrome. This is a biomechanical disorder that occurs to the thigh. Athletes those are involved in sports activities like weightlifting, hiking, cycling, soccer, running and martial activities face this syndrome. The patient gets pain in the lateral knee and this occurs due to the growth of tissue on the exterior part of the thigh, exterior portion of the pelvis girdle and below the knee area.
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs due to the rubbing of lateral femoral epicondyle and also due to the contraction and expansion of the knee tissue. This brings inflammation and severe pain and the patient gets hurt during walking or doing any other physical activity. The patient will feel irritation on the Iliotibial band portion. There will be swelling in the knee joints and also in the hip area. It is common in the long distance runners who over-pronate foot as well as who run heavily on the cambered roads. This syndrome is been characterized by tightness and pain on outside of your knee while running downhill and walking downstairs. Striking the foot on the ground will bring more pain and will slowly increase over time. This syndrome also affects to pregnancy women and to those who does not use the elevator.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome generally occurs to elderly person and peoples those who are above 50. In this age it’s hard to get recover soon because our metabolism system gets weak, due to age. Therefore, doctors suggest taking good rest to get recovered soon and also to stop your sports activities for certain period of time. If an athlete follows improper training, then he falls quickly under Iliotibial Band Syndrome.
This syndrome is actually an imbalance of muscle and also anatomical abnormalities. But taking different types of preventive, the patient can get recovered soon. Well, to reduce pain you need to take ice massage and anti-inflammatory medicines. Physiotherapy and massage therapy can offer dynamic result and will heal the Iliotibial band soon. Ultra sound machine and electrode stimulation will offer outstanding result.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome is a result of poor training habits, as well as anatomical abnormalities. About the training habits: Running on the banked surface (like shoulder of road or indoor track) bends downhill leg a little inward as well as causes an extreme stretching of band against femur Inadequate warm up and cool down Increasing distance very quickly and excessive downhill running.