Ottawa Holistic Health Centre
Multidisciplinary Health Care Practitioners
​- Pre and Post Natal
Mother and Infant Care
- Adult and Pediatric Osteopathy​​
- Adult Osteopathy​​
-Athlete Osteopathy
-Visceral and Structural Osteopathy
IT Band Syndrome and Osteopathic Care
The IT band (iliotibial band) is a thick band of tissue located along the thigh that can become inflamed, resulting in a painful and tender knee with limited weight bearing tolerance and reduced flexion. Sometimes, depending on where the inflammation of the IT band is located, it can cause referred pain to the hip as well.
This common knee (and sometimes hip) injury is known as IT band syndrome and it can occur for a multitude of reasons. Often, this syndrome will occur in athletes and people who repeatedly flex and extend their knee, either for exercise or work. Eventually, the IT band becomes irritated and gets inflamed which results in a painful and tender knee.
Although IT band syndrome is usually fairly straightforward to diagnose, treatment for this debilitating condition can be quite difficult, resulting in chronic inflammation which can prevent people from participating in their daily
activities such as exercise, sports and work. Early intervention is ideal in order to prevent further damage which can exasperate the injury.
Osteopathy treatment for an inflamed and painful IT band can be quite successful, however, successful conservative treatment can rely not only on the experience of the osteopath, but also on patient compliance as they may have to modify their activities in order to allow their injury to heal. The patient may find things such as physical therapy, athletic therapy, chiropractic and even massage therapy helps them to further strengthen, stretch and align themselves in an attempt to prevent the syndrome from returning.
Elissa Gustafson, DOMP and Carolyn Smith,DOMP at the Ottawa Holistic Health Centre. They has experience in treating IT band syndrome and are always looking to further their education in order to provide the best possible care for her patients. Elissa and Maria want to work with those suffering from this syndrome as she understands how easily this seemingly simple condition can become a chronic and painful injury.