I’ve been fighting this thing for a month now. It started after my first long run in awhile which happened to be on a treadmill. After easing back and changing shoes it is sloooowly getting better. My speed is back to normal with only minor discomfort the last mile or so. The strange thing is that it seems better when running outside in cold weather, on rough concrete roads, with some fairly sizeable hills than when running the same distance and speed on my treadmill. It’s a pretty nice treadmill with a fairly soft belt/bed. Does this make sense? I even warm up and stretch more before running inside.
bump
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How do IT band problems manifest themselves…I mean, I have no pain there when I bike or run or whatever, but I had a ‘sports’ massage some time back and when he went in on them they were excruciating;ly painful!!! does this mean it’s the start of something or like the calves they hurt if you stick your hands in hard…
Definitely the opposite for me - been fighting ITBS for a couple of years, when it flares and its at its worst (as it is now) I can still do about twice the distance on my treadmill than I can on the road.
Frustrating!
Are you running on a good treadmill?
And there is always the possibility that if your ITBS is related to a leg-length discrepancy the crowning of a road could be helping by “levelling” you some… e.g. if your left leg is shorter and you run on the right side of the road you’d be more level than on a flat treadmill.
Have you made it to a Dr. or PT to evaluate what is causing it?
It’s a good treadmill. High end True model. And when I run outside I try to mainly use level surfaces so I don’t think that’s it. I’ll feel great for 4 miles then it really flares up. I’m going to see a PT today.
My IT issues are always a lot worse on a treadmill. Actually the treadmill seems to exaggerate any nagging leg problems that I’m having. I always figured it was because the moving belt pulls my legs backwards at an unusual clip. I know many people that say treadmills are better but def. not for me.
That said the super new ones in the gym are better than the older ones.
I don’t have IT problems-- but I do have a mild case of plantar fascitis (sp?) in one foot. I definitely don’t have any pain the next day after running outside, but the morning after a treadmill run-- it is quite sore. I’m sure I do something different on the treadmill— just haven’t figured out what it is— it does make my decision about where to run much easier.
All it takes is ONE irritation to that bursa under that condyle from one long run. Once that little sac on your knee got irritated and inflamed by the band, it will stay inflamed until the swelling or irritation goes away. Running on it immediately after that by changing shoes, immediately using orthotics, doing strengthening exercises, and stretching the TFL, glutes, or band, and doing otherwise correct, right, pre-cautionary measures to ward off ITBS, after it once gets inflamed, does you NO GOOD immediately. If you run on it, before the inflammation goes away, it will keep coming back.