IT Band Syndrome
IT band syndrome (ITBS) is characterized by severe and nagging pain on the outside of the knee area. The Iliotibial band is the ligament that connects the hip to the knee and is located on the outside of the leg. ITBS is a highly common injury in the running world. It is experienced by novice to expert runners. It is the result of a large variety of issues that, often times, cause problems in conjunction with each other. This often results in difficulty pinpointing the exact cause of the problem, which in turn makes it very difficult to resolve. For some runners, ITBS is a plague that can be extremely difficult to resolve and can last many months even years. Runners who train on inclines (especially downhill) will experience this issue more regularly. Lack of flexibility, strength, and balance can team up to put excessive strain on the IT Band, and strain will cause ITBS. Many runners find that remedial training can build the stabilizing muscles and limit the stress put on the IT band.
