29/01/2026
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ฅ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ.
What is the IT Band? ๐ฆต
The full name is the Iliotibial Band. Itโs a thick band of fascial tissue that runs from your hip to just below the outside of your knee.
IT Band tension is an important ni**le to look out for, it usually presents as discomfort on the outside of the knee, hip or thigh. Ignoring it can lead to bigger issues down the line.
Assessing tension ๐
When it comes to assessing and treating tension in the band, I assess the knee and hip. This includes looking at the glutes, quadriceps, adductors, hip flexors and hamstrings.
As you can see from the video, Bekki had 2 adhesions close to her IT Band that were creating an increased level of discomfort. The adhesions were in her outer Quadriceps (Vastus Lateralis) and when the muscle twitches you can see it move toward the IT Band.
By relieving tension in the Quadriceps, Hip Flexors and cupping the band itself as an added layer of treatment, she can continue running pain free.
Why cupping is effective ๐
The band itself becomes inflamed and tight, manual massage techniques often rely on applying pressure, something that is likely to irritate the band more.
One of the modalities I offer is dry cupping for treatments like this one. By warming up the tissue and then applying cups, that lift the tissue, rather than compress the area, I can effectively relieve discomfort without increasing irritation to clients.
Right then, hands up, who has felt IT Band discomfort before? ๐โโ๏ธ
