About iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)

What is iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

If you’ve got a nagging pain on the outer part of your knee, especially if you’re a runner, it could be a symptom of iliotibial band (IT band) syndrome. It’s an injury often caused by activities where you bend your knee repeatedly, like running, cycling, hiking, and walking long distances.

Your IT band is a thick bunch of fibers that runs from the outside of your hips to the outside of your thigh and knee down to the top of your shinbone. If your IT band gets too tight, it can lead to swelling and pain around your knee.

IT band syndrome usually gets better with time and treatment. You don’t typically need surgery.

What are the symptoms for iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

The main symptom is Pain on the outer side of your knee, just above the joint. Early on, the Pain might go away after you warm up. Over time though, you may notice it gets worse as you exercise.

Other symptoms include:

  • Aching, burning, or Tenderness on the outside of your knee
  • Feeling a click, pop, or snap on the outside of your knee
  • Pain up and down your leg
  • Warmth and Redness on the outside of your knee

See your doctor if you have these symptoms, especially if any existing ones get worse.

What are the causes for iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

The problem is friction where the IT band crosses over your knee. A fluid-filled sac called a bursa normally helps the IT band glide smoothly over your knee as you bend and straighten your leg.

But if your IT band is too tight, bending your knee creates friction. Your IT band and the bursa can both start to swell, which leads to the pain of IT band syndrome.

What are the treatments for iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

If you closely follow your doctor’s orders and give yourself the rest you need, you can usually recover from it in about 6 weeks.

Some basic steps can help ease the pain and swelling:

  • Don’t do activities that trigger the pain.
  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers.
  • Wrap an ice pack in a towel and put it on the outside of your knee for 10-15 minutes at a time.

A physical therapist can:

  • Give you tips for how to best warm up and cool down
  • Help you choose footwear and, if you need them, shoe inserts
  • Show you exercises to help strengthen and stretch your IT band and leg muscles
  • Talk to you about how to adjust your training schedule
  • Teach you how to improve your form to go easier on your body
  • Use friction massage, ice, or ultrasound to help with pain and swelling

That usually does the trick, though some people need cortisone injections to help with pain and swelling.

What are the risk factors for iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

Several things can up your odds of getting it. Some you can help, and others you can’t.

Not using the right training techniques.

  • Not doing enough to stretch, warm up, and cool down
  • Pushing too hard -- you go too far or for too long
  • Not resting long enough between workouts
  • Wearing worn-out sneakers

Running or training on the wrong surfaces.

  • Running downhill
  • Running only on one side of the road. Because roads slope toward the curb, your outside foot is lower, which tilts your hips and throws your body off.
  • Training on banked, rather than flat, surfaces. Most running tracks are slightly banked.

Certain physical conditions. Some traits raise your chances of getting IT band syndrome:

  • Bowed legs
  • Knee arthritis
  • One leg that’s longer than the other
  • Rotating your foot or ankle inward when you walk or run
  • Rotating your whole leg inward when you walk or run
  • Weakness in your abs, glutes, or hip muscles

Is there a cure/medications for iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome)?

Iliotibial band syndrome (it band syndrome) is an inflammatory disease caused by prolonged and rapid cycling of the knee through extension (straightening of the leg) and flexion.

Treatment is of two types: non-operative and surgical treatment.
1. Non-operative treatment

  • Foremost, the affected person must refrain from activities that involve the knees.
    •Intermittent cryotherapy helps alleviate knee flares.
    •Physical therapy focuses on stretching the ITB, and abduction strengthening help by lengthening the ITB and reducing tension.
    •Rehabilitation involves manual therapy such as myofascial release with a foam roller that can break up adhesions.
    •NSAIDs may help reduce inflammation. In case of non-response, corticosteroid injections are the alternatives.
    •Shoe modification, foot orthosis, and sport-specific technique training prevent ITBS from reoccurring.
    •Patients may recover after 6 to 8 weeks of nonsurgical treatment. The intensity of their physical activity involving the knees should be gradually increased.
  • percutaneous or open ITB release
    • ITB lengthening with a Z-plasty
    • open ITB bursectomy
    • arthroscopic ITB debridement
    • resection of lateral synovial recess.
Symptoms
Lateral knee pain and fever in case of intolerable pain
Conditions
The iliotibial band gets irritated or swollen from rubbing against your hip or knee bones
Drugs
NSAIDs and corticosteroids

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