The iliotibial band runs along the lateral thigh crossing the hip and knee. It provides stability and limits hip abduction and knee internal rotation. The band runs right over the lateral epicondyle of the femur and when it is tight or inflamed, can sometimes press into and rub against the epicondyle causing lateral knee pain. This is most seen in runners, and is known as an overuse injury, that happens over a period of time, becoming iliotibial band syndrome, or ITBS. Two articles were found that talk about how running biomechanics effect ITBS, one in males and the other in females. The first article claims that more women are effected with ITBS than men and compares the differences in lower extremity and trunk biomechanics during running between women with ITBS and without. The second article assesses hip and knee biomechanics between male runners with iliotibial band syndrome …show more content…
The theory for this study was that male runners with ITBS would have weaker hip abductor and external rotators, diminished length of the IT band, increased hip and knee adduction, and increased internal and knee external rotation angles compared to the healthy control group. The participants consisted of thirty-four males split into two groups equally, those with ITBS and those without. Their hip strength and iliotibial band flexibility were measured, as well as Kinetic and three-dimensional Kinematic data were obtained during the participant’s running. They had two practice trials and three testing trials and then the average of the three testing trials was taken. The Ober’s Test was used to measure the IT band length. Visual three-dimensional software captured the runners and then analyzed the