I seem to have developed Iliotibial band syndrome.. Has anyone got any triedand trusted methods for a cure.... Is it better to rest or to stretch/ use a cross trainer or use some tape?
Had same problem last year and at one point thought that I'd have to give up running completely. Then read on here about using a foam roller so bought one from Argos (cheap enough) and have never looked back. Physio just aggrevated it, orthotics helped for a while but using the roller on a regular basis seems to have sorted it for me. Gotta be worth a try
I'm currently recovering from a second bout (which struck at mile 18 of a marathon last weekend).
I recommend:
Foam rollering from hip to knee a couple of times a day while it's bad
Icing your knee immediately after exercise aggravates it (I find this only mildly helpful if at all, but I know someone it helped a lot)
Cut right back on mileage until the pain is less/gone and ease back into it slowly.
Avoid hills. Especially downhill.
It's best to have a physio look at it to diagnose the cause. Mine is a slightly weak part of my glute aggravated by a tight piriformis. For me the best solution is pigeon stretch, and shallow squats.
Shallow squats with your back against a wall, really paying attention to keeping your knees parallel.
Exercises like clam shells (looks of vids on youtube and on internet searches).
Really paying attention to your form whilst running - ensuring that you're not 'thudding' and that your legs aren't twisting in or out with each step. Slowing down will help with this.
Not stopping foam rolling or rehabbing when the pain is gone is important (as I learned during my marathon).
Last Sunday I could barely walk - I did all these things and today it's more or less fine. Good luck!
I'm currently suffering with ITB as well. As Flippaah said but with the difference of I have stopped running altogether for the last 2 weeks and wont run again for another 3 or so weeks. For the two weeks prior to that I was running 2/3 miles at a very slow pace for me but I kept getting the pain in the knee. I decided on seeing a physio who confirmed pretty much what I already knew and told me the quickest way to completely recover from ITB was to stop running for 4/6 weeks. He also gave me some of the above exercises and a couple more as well: single leg squats on the stairs/steps - face downwards and squat with your 'bad' knee for 2 x 10 reps. There is another good exercise which stretches the ITB (cant remember what its called) but I sit down and rest my foot (of the leg with the injury) on my other knee and gently push down on my injured leg. Then I push my chest forwards and I can feel the ITB stretching and keep pushing gently so it stretches even more. Using a foam roller also replicates the massageing action of the physio - although I focus on doing it from the knee to the hip whereas Flippaaah suggested the hip to the knee. No idea if it makes any difference or not. I also dont know if all of this is working or not as I'm not running and the only time I was getting any pain was when I ran. Does anyone else get any pain when not running ?
Comments
Had same problem last year and at one point thought that I'd have to give up running completely. Then read on here about using a foam roller so bought one from Argos (cheap enough) and have never looked back. Physio just aggrevated it, orthotics helped for a while but using the roller on a regular basis seems to have sorted it for me. Gotta be worth a try
I'm currently recovering from a second bout (which struck at mile 18 of a marathon last weekend).
I recommend:
Last Sunday I could barely walk - I did all these things and today it's more or less fine. Good luck!
I'm currently suffering with ITB as well. As Flippaah said but with the difference of I have stopped running altogether for the last 2 weeks and wont run again for another 3 or so weeks. For the two weeks prior to that I was running 2/3 miles at a very slow pace for me but I kept getting the pain in the knee. I decided on seeing a physio who confirmed pretty much what I already knew and told me the quickest way to completely recover from ITB was to stop running for 4/6 weeks. He also gave me some of the above exercises and a couple more as well: single leg squats on the stairs/steps - face downwards and squat with your 'bad' knee for 2 x 10 reps. There is another good exercise which stretches the ITB (cant remember what its called) but I sit down and rest my foot (of the leg with the injury) on my other knee and gently push down on my injured leg. Then I push my chest forwards and I can feel the ITB stretching and keep pushing gently so it stretches even more. Using a foam roller also replicates the massageing action of the physio - although I focus on doing it from the knee to the hip whereas Flippaaah suggested the hip to the knee. No idea if it makes any difference or not. I also dont know if all of this is working or not as I'm not running and the only time I was getting any pain was when I ran. Does anyone else get any pain when not running ?
Each to their own David, each to their own
You seem to have been told off many times today too....
I wonder if the cause of ITB is people getting their knickers in a twist
Ohhh.... interesting post, cheers.