Get To Know The Symptoms Of Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The iliotibial band (IT band) is some connective tissue running from your hip to your shinbone and knee. It's on the outer part of your leg, ladies! The IT band helps you flex and extend your knee and leg. You have one in each leg, so everything's covered! However, you can damage the IT band. This is what iliotibial band syndrome is. It's an overuse injury from not stretching right, mechanical imbalances, and overworking your body. Ladies, you're the most at risk when you are a runner or bicyclist. That said, anyone can get this one.

The good news is that there are quite a few iliotibial band syndrome treatment options. Ladies, it won't be hard to obtain IT band pain relief! Rest is very helpful. Medication for IT band syndrome is out there too. This is often OTC anti-inflammatories for IT band pain. Ladies, you will want the best brace for IT band syndrome too. Massage and foam rollers help as home remedies for iliotibial band syndrome! Of course, physical therapy for IT band syndrome is helpful when your condition is serious. That said, the best treatment for IT band syndrome depends on your symptoms!

Stinging Or Pricking

Ladies, you will often feel a little stinging or pricking around one knee when you have IT band syndrome. It usually happens after you have been moving your leg! Ladies, expect this feeling to start when your heel hits the ground. You will likely find this stinging feeling a little odd at first. That said, it's easy to ignore in the beginning, since it's not happening all the time! However, the stinging or pricking will progress as your IT band gets more damaged. Many women find that it gets painful rather than just odd or uncomfortable after a few months.

Knee Swelling

Don't be surprised when iliotibial band syndrome means some knee swelling! A major reason for this sign is the IT band's location. It's behind your thighbone and reaches your knee, ladies! This band helps your leg bend and extend safely. Of course, it does this with the help of the bursa. Sadly, overworking your knee and leg means the IT band and bursa will get inflamed. This inflammation is the trigger for knee swelling when it sticks around for a while! Thankfully, ladies, rest helps take this away. There are medical treatment options out there that will help as well.

Knee And Leg Pain

Ladies, the most common sign of iliotibial band syndrome is knee and leg pain! It sets in when your IT band and bursa have been swollen for quite a little while. Most of the time, you will feel the most pain on the outside of your knee and leg. Remember, ladies, this is where your iliotibial band is! Some of you will have pain that starts to radiate to other parts of your knee and leg. It will start on the outside all the time first, though! A little redness and warmth often appear along with knee and leg pain too.

Clicking Or Popping Around The Knee

Many of you will deal with IT band tightening as time passes. This is what happens when it's inflamed for a little while! Ladies, having a tight iliotibial band can get quite painful. It's responsible for most of the symptoms, including this one. Many of you will hear a clicking or popping sound around your knee! This sound happens when you're bending or flexing your leg with this syndrome. You're stretching your IT band to its limits. However, this sound can also indicate many other issues. Ladies, you have to have other iliotibial band syndrome symptoms before anyone can say this sign comes from it!

Butt Tenderness

Ladies, you will get most symptoms of IT band syndrome around your knee. Remember, this is because of the location of this band! That said, this condition also triggers symptoms around the top of the IT band. One of them is butt tenderness! When your IT band is too tight for too long, it's going to result in friction against your hip when you walk and move. Eventually, this friction's going to mean your hip gets a little tender. Shortly after that, you will experience butt tenderness. However, this only happens on one side. It's because you have 2 iliotibial bands: one in each leg!