My Knee Problem

After a marathon with 15 miles of downhill (TOU), my knee was SHOT- actually, come to find out it was my IT band. I had contracted iliotibial band friction syndrome. (and yes, it's WORSE than it sounds)
Essentially the IT band connects to the head of the tibia (part of the shin bone), runs across the lateral portion of the knee and connects to your gluts.


If you haven't trained running downhill, and you pop into a little 15 mile downhill run, the IT band gets exacerbated (or inflamed) from the constant rubbing. It usually takes 2-3 months of rest to reduce the inflammation enough to start exercising. In my case it took 1 month of rickety walking and 2 months of elliptical to heal.

I kept trying and trying to run on my inflamed knee, but the pain and swelling never reduced, even after several bouts with physical therapy. With the help of a seasoned BYU track runner and Gold's Gym personal trainer, the problem was solved!

Answer: The Stick

My muscles apparently are quite prone to cramping, and cramp in strategic locations so as to pull my knee out of the normal groove made for rotation caused during running. By reducing the cramping through proper massage and stretching, I'm as good as new!

Take-home-message: Rub those cramps OUT! (and move in with a massage therapist too)