Could acupuncture help with inflammation of the illiotibal band, (ITBS)?

Question

I have illiotibal band syndrome, which means after running for a short while my I.T band, (hip to knee tendon), gets tired and inflamed and cuases pain in the movment of the knee at a 40/ 90 degree angle....so could acupuncture help with the inflammtion of the I.T in conjunction with scretching and (NSAID's), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ?

THANK YOU

Answer 1

To quote Groucho Marx:  "It couldn't hoit" !!

Answer 2

potentially yes.

Answer 3

Find a practitioner that utilizes the Graston Technique.  It sounds like you have adhesions (tissue is stuck) in your IT band.  Active Release Technique is also effective.  When you have adhesive tissue, movement will be painful and restrictive.  This will set off the inflammatory cascade and spread to other areas.  Evaluating other mechanical areas of dysfunction is also crucial.  Acupuncture is mainly used as a pain control method in conjunction.  NSAID's only provides  short term pain relief.  Since you are active, it really sounds like you have a mechanical problem.  Mechanical Problems need to be fixed manually by hand!

Answer 4

Possibly but why is your ITB becoming inflamed?

It is unusual for this to be idiopathic. There is usually an irritative cause.

Your hips may be excessively externally rotated, your TFL muscle which attaches to the ITB may be over tight.

Have you tried stetches and exercises to balance the musculature?

Answer 5

I think your best bet here is to go for a physical therapy approach which helps you find a way to change your movement so it isn't as much of a problem.

However, if you want an anti inflammatory, look into DMSO.  To my knowledge it's the most effective anti inflammatory agent which exits, it's definitiely not a steroid, and it's non toxic (provided you make sure not to mix anything into it, and apply it to clean skin, since anything mixed in with DMSO can get into your body).

Hope that helps!