Do you have pain on the outside of the upper leg? Do you feel like your outer thigh is on fire? Do you have pain on the outside of your knee or on your hip joint? You could be experiencing something called IT band syndrome. The Iliotibial (IT) band is a thick fibrous tissue that runs from the iliac crest at the top of the pelvis to the outside of the knee. IT band syndrome is typically caused by overuse and can cause symptoms typically anywhere from the hip area down to the knee. This is a common injury for runners but anyone can be affected.
IT band syndrome often begins with a repetitive motion or action, sometimes correlated with improper biomechanics and muscular imbalance. Often the pain is in the lateral knee (for runners it is normally with heel strike) stemming from inflammation created by irritation of the tissue or surrounding structures.
Diagnosis is most often done with history and a physical examination. Treatment is typically conservative consisting of ice for pain and inflammation, stretching, massage, and chiropractic adjustments to improve biomechanics.
To find out more or to determine if chiropractic can help you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Jolene Harlow at Harlow Chiropractic at (253) 939-9599. Don’t let IT band syndrome stop you from living the active life you want to live.
