IT Band Syndrome Google Fail

This is less about Iliotibial Band Syndrome and more about the inadequacy of a Google search. Sorry Google. You too Youtube.

Let's say that the outer portion of your thigh hurts and your friends mom had a similar pain that her cousin who is a orthopedic doctor told her was ITB syndrome. Your friends mom did some stretches and rested and rubbed some essential oils on it and the pain went away. You did the same thing and it worked for a week until you returned to your normal activity level.

So you turned to the almighty internet. Your Google search found a few thousand mentions of the IT Band. To save the effort of reading, you click a handful of Youtube links.

Try for yourself. The far majority of the links show you any ONE of three things:


1. How to stretch the ITB.
2. How to massage or roll various utensils on the ITB.
3. A few show you how to strengthen the ITB.


Even the Wikipedia link above, after describing the anatomy and common causes of ITB syndrome, instructs you to rest, ice, compress, stretch, and massage the area.


And to think some folks have seriously suggested that Google has replaced God. Really? I'm not even convinced that robots will take over the world.






Sure, there are patterns to look for. This is true of most health issues.


Sure, resting and icing and massaging and ultrasounding and e-stimming and foam rolling and taping and stretching and Advilling the ITB may help manage the symptoms. But all of the Innernets do not address YOUR unique set of circumstances causing the mechanical overload of the ITB.


Are you weak in the torso or hips? Do you have a structural irregularity like femoral anteversion, a difference in leg length, planus (flat) or cavus (high) foot arches. What do you look like when you walk and run? Have you seen your own form? What shoes are you wearing? Do you follow an intelligent (exercise) program design? Are your expectations realistic?


And this does not even broach the issue of how aggressively you can treat the problem. Some may adequately address the issue in a few minutes while others will take weeks before it is wise to return to their desired activity level.


Yes, I'm one to Google things up before hiring a professional to do the work for me. But when that fails (and my basement ceiling right now proves it has), I'm not afraid to talk to someone with a far greater and comprehensive knowledge of the area.