Causes

ITBS is usually based on a shortening of the iliotibial ligament, among other things due to overstrain, pelvic malposition, foot malposition – which affects the entire continuing muscle and structural chain upwards, leg axis malposition, muscular imbalances, an unphysiological gait pattern, the wrong running shoes, the wrong running style, or an injury. Subsequently, the shortened strong ligament rubs over a bony protrusion at the lower end of the thigh bone, over which it runs on the outside of the thigh. This friction irritates the ligament, which in turn leads to the development of a classic inflammation after a longer period of existence.

Overweight also promotes ITBS. Our thigh bone is slightly bent when walking and standing due to the body weight resting on it, which is physiological and quite normal. The described iliotibial ligament holds against this curvature by its position and tension in the sense of a tension-belt system. However, if the femur now bends more, due to the carrying of more load of the existing overweight, the tendon ligament must work harder, which in the long run leads to overloading and the circulation of the ITBS described above: Incorrect/overload, shortening, inflammation, pain, evasive movement.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms are severe pain in the outer knee. The cause may be in the hip, knee, feet, or muscles – the site of inflammation is the rubbing point between the visual ligament and the bony prominence. Depending on the stage, the pulling, burning pain that develops here occurs only after some time when running, later also when walking and even after the load has been applied.

Other signs of inflammation such as a slight swelling and heat can occur.At this point at the latest, it is important not to simply continue training, but to protect the structures until the inflammation has subsided. Pain is always a warning signal from the body, which should not be ignored if a chronification of the problem is to be avoided. Comprehensive information on this topic can be found in the article: ITBS symptoms/pain