Restricted movement

Pain in the iliotibial band syndrome can cause protective tension in the muscles involved – a natural reaction of the human body. This affects the gluteal muscles of the buttocks and the musculus tensor fasciae latae, which runs along the lateral thigh. The consequence of this protective tension is reduced mobility in flexion and extension in the knee joint, but restrictions in the range of movement of the hip joint can also be observed. Above all, stretching the leg backwards and sideways is particularly difficult for those affected. In this respect, you might also find these topics interesting:

Stretching exercises gluteus muscle
Mobility training buttocks
Physiotherapy – Iliotibial Band Syndrome

Loss of strength

A loss of strength of the gluteal muscles and the “tensor fasciae latae” is the consequence of the restriction of movement. A shortening of the musculature means that the muscle can no longer be shortened from its full length. This results in unfavorable biomechanical leverage, which reduces the strength of the muscle. Standing suddenly onset pain also leads to a loss of strength, since the subsequent muscle tension prevents further movement.

Pain during simple strengthening exercises

Of course, even simple strengthening exercises can cause pain in the course of the tractus iliotibhialis. This is usually due to the fact that too few stretching exercises are performed and the shortened iliotibial ligament creates friction on the thigh bone. Therefore, care must be taken to create a healthy balance between stretching exercises and strengthening exercises.

The use of fascial rollers should also be part of the training program, as they make the connective tissue more flexible. When doing strengthening exercises, always make sure that the leg axes are symmetrical to avoid muscle imbalance. Jogging, hiking and cycling should not be used for strengthening, as these sports can easily lead to overloading of the tractus iliotibialis. Water gymnastics, aqua jogging or exercises on an elliptical trainer are ideal for strengthening.