New Research on Iliotibial Band Syndrome Suggest Stretching Can Help!
There is a interesting new research suggesting that strengthening, notstretching, is the best way to deal with iliotibial band syndrome:
They call it the “other” runner’s knee injury. Iliotibial band
syndrome was the topic of a special session at the annual meeting of
the American College of Sports Medicine earlier this month, and for
good reason: While it’s less familiar than the cartilage problems that
cause the classic “runner’s knee,” it remains the second most common
running injury , accounting for about 25 per cent of overuse injuries,
and also afflicts many cyclists.
While Traditional Rehab has Focused on Lengthening and Loosening the Stubborn Band, New Studies Show that Strengthening the Hip Muscles May Be More Effective Treatment for Iliotibial Band Pain
The results presented at the meeting suggest a new approach to dealing
with iliotibial band pain. While traditional rehab has focused on
lengthening and loosening the stubborn band, early results from a
study by the University of Calgary’s Running Injury Clinic show that
strengthening the hip muscles may be more effective – not only for
rehab, but for preventing the injury in the first place...
The article describes a neat study from Reed Ferber at the University
of Calgary's Running Injury Clinic. He's had 100 percent success with
23 patients so far with a six-week hip strengthening program. The key
exercises (as you might be able to see below in the thumbnail of the
graphic that Trish McAlaster did for the Globe article) use a
theraband to strengthen the hip abductors, hip extensors, and gluteus
medius:
