IT Band Syndrome

I have chronicled some of my knee problems before. This reoccurring knee issue is what kept me from running for years until in 2007 I decided I would work through it no mater what it took. Which meant not running on it in pain but focusing on recovery, stretching and strength work outs.

I have read a lot of material on running knee problems but I could never quite "diagnose" what particular ailment I had: Runner's knee, Patellar tendinitis, or other scary sounding problems. My pain was my left knee on the outside slightly under the knee cap.

I had seen several articles on IT Band Syndrome but I never identified it as my issue, until I ran across the Runner's World Running Doc blog entry: IT Band Syndrome.

This was just before my running of the Pacific Crest Half Marathon and i quickly put the Running Doc's stretching advise in place. I also stepped up the use of the Runner's World Build a better knee stretches and exercises.

I am currently running 40 - 45 miles a week in preparation for the Portland Marathon and I am no longer having even residual knee pain. When I skip several days I feel it so I am pretty sure this is my issue. It is great to have it identified and a simple a fix as stretching.

David