Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome (ITBFS) - Protect your Knees

ITBFS is a common overuse injury which gives pain at the outside of the knee during and following repetitive leg activity.  The continual rubbing of the band over the outside knee bone during sports causes inflammation to the fibers of the iliotibial band and therefore creates pain.

Symptoms include pain/stinging sensation just above knee joint on outside of knee,  pain during activity that intensifies over time and can persist after activity, and pain when climbing up and especially down stairs.

Women are more prone than men, although long distance runners and cyclists are most commonly at risk. Those with high or low arches in the feet and muscular imbalances such as weak hip/gluteals muscles are also at high risk. ITBFS can be avoided by following proper training habits e.g increasing running distance gradually, and by strengthening & stretching surrounding muscles. Include the following stretches in your warm up & warm down routine; quadriceps (thigh muscles), gluteus maximus (butt muscles) and it is important to strengthen core stabilizing muscles (lower abdominals).  Use a foam roller to loosen the iliotibial band.

Our Musculoskeletal Therapist, Bonnie Cahill, will get you on the road to recovery from ITB fiction syndrome and many other musculoskeletal related injuries throughout the whole body. 

“Since my first treatment Bonnie has always been very professional and helpful. Beyond her incredible treatments she gave me ‘homework’ to speed up healing & strengthen the area. Her expertise enabled me to resume training for the Gold coast Half Marathon. I made the 21kms with no ITB problem!”

Greg Rees (client)