The IT Band or “Iliotibial Band” is a thick, tough fascia that runs from the hip to just below the knee on the outside of the thigh. The IT Band is often the cause of knee pain in runners as well as many other types of overuse activities. The causes of this pain and the solutions are subject to much debate. What is clear is that many of the “accepted” methods of treatment are not really of much use.
The overwhelming suggestion for relieving IT Band pain is to massage the outside of the thigh using a foam roller. While we are 
certainly fans of using foam rollers to treat a variety of ailments, the typical use of a foam roller to treat IT Band pain is at best ineffective. There is nothing wrong with using a foam roller to massage the IT Band; this type of therapy isn’t actually going to help alleviate the pain.
As with any injury or chronic pain, it is always advisable to see a qualified professional to assess treatment options. Knee pain in particular can be very complicated. Diagnosing the cause (of runner’s knee) and recommending an effective treatment plan should be handled by someone with the proper credentials and experience to get it right and help alleviate the pain.
So if using the foam roller to massage the IT Band is not generally an effective method of treatment, what is?
The answer is, it depends. Since there isn’t just one cause of pain in the knee or one reason that your IT Band may be distressed, there can’t be just one solution. The good news is, once we have diagnosed the root causes of your problem, we can begin to build a treatment plan that will not only alleviate your pain, but correct the underlying cause.
Knee pain, whether caused by an inflamed IT Band or some other reason, more often than not can be treated effectively. A patient can also support that treatment with an effective fitness regimen focused on strengthening and stretching the affected areas.
Chiropractic offers many solutions to knee pain and IT Band issues.
Physical Therapy offers a wide range of therapies that address the root causes of knee and IT Band pain.
Pilates, Yoga and GYROTONIC® instructors can design an effective exercise regimen that will help patients strengthen and stretch the affected areas so that pain relief is long-term.
Acupuncture is one of the key supporting therapies for knee pain relief. In many cases, Acupuncture is an extremely effective approach to resolving knee pain and in particular, IT Band pain.
While massaging the IT Band using foam rollers is not generally going to help get rid of knee pain, a qualified therapeutic massage professional can greatly reduce knee and/or IT Band pain. The massage team here at BHP is well versed in treating patients in conjunction with the overall treatment plan.
It is this multi-dimensional approach to resolving knee pain, whether it is caused by the IT Band or some other issue, that offers the best chance for success. More importantly, once we have identified the root cause of your pain and have begun to treat it, we can teach each patient a few simple exercises/stretches that they can do at home to prevent the problem from recurring.
So if you have any type of knee pain, or in fact have an issue with your IT Band, please contact a medical professional for an evaluation so that you can isolate the cause of your problem and find the most effective solution that will help you alleviate the pain (short and long-term). Finding the cause of your knee pain first, and then the best regimen to overcome the root cause of the problem, can get your “runner’s knee” under control once and for all.
If you have any questions regarding anything we’ve written or would like to book an appointment with us, please click HERE to be directed to our contact page. Beverly Hills Posture is proud to offer Chiropractic Care with an abundance of options including- Yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, Acupuncture, Acupressure and Massage Therapy. We dedicate ourselves to creating a healthier you.
In Perfect Symmetry 