Running provides aerobic activity for your heart, tones your muscles and releases endorphins that make you feel great. Iliotibial band syndrome is a common condition among runners. Iliotibial band pain when you're running presents classic symptoms that you should learn to recognize and treat.
The Iliotibial Band
The iliotibial band is a tendon made of thick fibrous tissue. It originates at your hip, travels down the outer part of your thigh and crosses over your knee cap. It provides extra support for your knee and is a vital part of the knee joint. You can feel your iliotibial band if you tighten your thigh muscles and feel the outer part of your leg.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Iliotibial band syndrome is considered an overuse syndrome, the result of constant flexing of the knee that winds up irritating the iliotibial band. The lateral pain from iliotibial band syndrome feels like it cuts right across your knee cap. It starts out slowly, then becomes worse with every step and eventually hurts even when you're sitting. The pain is especially intense when you run up and down hills because of the pressure you place on your knee.
Initial Treatment
When you feel the lateral pain of iliotibial band syndrome, your doctor will advise you to stop all flexing of the knee. This means you'll need to rest and elevate your knee. To treat the pain and swelling, you'll have to ice your knee for 20 minutes at a time and possibly take anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. If that doesn't stop the pain and swelling, you may need a cortisone shot.
More Treatment
Once the pain and swelling subside, you'll have to undergo physical therapy. This program will focus on stretching the iliotibial band with stretching exercises. It will also focus on strengthening the muscle that supports the iliotibial band, the gluteus medius, which is located in your buttocks next to the gluteus maximus. If physical therapy is not effective at relieving the condition, you may need surgery to snip the iliotibial band where it crosses the knee.
