ITB (Iliotibial band) Syndrome - Explained in a minute (knee pain)

This is a succinct look at the condition of Iliotibial Band (ITB) Syndrome, including the causes of the injury, symptoms, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Symptoms of Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Pain on the outside of the knee (at or around the lateral epicondyle of the femur).
Tightness in the iliotibial band.
Pain normally aggravated by running, particularly downhill.
Pain during flexion or extension of the knee, made worse by pressing in at the side of the knee over the sore part.
Weakness in hip abduction.
Tender trigger points in the gluteal area may also be present.

[StanleyKu]

Good to know, thank you for your time.

[SportsinjuryclinicNet]

@aussie0981 No, pain on the inside is not the same. This could be the medial ligament or maybe a hamstring tendon

[SportsinjuryclinicNet]

@Balkance Hi. Ice can help if there is inflammation from the rubbing of the band against the epicondyle. If not, then yes it could make it worse if the muscles tighten up. I would go for a warm pack instead but just keep it away from the outer knee and apply it to the band itself, higher up.

[QuangBanG]

The ITB originates in parts of the TFL and the Glute Max. An under active/weak glute med and glute max is compensated by the over activity of the TFL which tightens the ITB and also can't resist valgus torques placed upon the knee leading to the friction of the ITB along the lateral epicondyle. So would you recommend strengthening the glutes after symptoms have been treated?

[bigman]

If i'm training my legs 3 time a week to jump higher what should you do if your training both inside and outside leg muscles and you have this syndrome?

[aussie]

Is this the same with the inside of the knee? The inside of my knee gets really painful when I run, thanks

[StanleyKu]

I have IT band pain, but up in the hip. And I have the most pain when I contract my quads. Does this mean the IT band has attached itself to the outer head of my quad (VL)?

[GSPxRUSH]

I get pain from the upper side of my knee to lower middle is this still itb syndrome or something else and yes I use to run but stop working out for awhile got lazy lol can iit be fixed by working out the outer hip muscles due to strenght loss from me stopping my work outs?

[SportsinjuryclinicNet]

No. That can't happen.
There could be numerus reasons why you are getting pain in the outer hip when contracting the quads. It may be IT band, although pain at the hip is not as common as pain at the knee with this condition. Could be the lateral glutes, could be bursitis....
Go see a sports injury specialist. No other way of knowing I'm afraid!

[Balkance]

actually... ice packs for some reason make ITBS worse for me.... i've noticed that applying mineral ice (icy-cool) cream has also no good outcomes. It's weird because my symptoms stopped for a few days, and then for 2 days in a row I swam in a cold pool and atmosphere and the IT band acted up again... hmmm