Monday, August 9, 2010

IT Band Misconceptions



Hello!
Hope you are living in the 'Kingdom Mindset' today.
Where your Father has reign over the land and you are blessed.
I want to talk about the IT band. I met with a wonderful couple yesterday who were the picture of youth and health. When they saw the sign on my car; the Muscle Mechanics, the gentleman's wife asked about the IT band. So let's talk shop.
The IT band is a tendonous connective tissue.
Tendonous: not able to contract or relax.
connective tissue: implies it connects something or holds it together.

The IT band does not contract nor get tight. What runners often sense is a clinically documented referred pain pattern that travels through the Vastus Lateralis Muscle group of the quadracep.
This referred Pain pattern is often the result of a tight Quadracep. However, you must also go to the origin.
The hip flexors such as the Rectus Femoris, Psoas and Iliacus most of the time are too tight and we Americans as a whole are too busy to stretch.
The Abductors and the Adductors must be assessed for weakness or limited range of motion which indicates disorder in the family of muscles responsible for such actions.
The Extensors of the Femur at the Hip can and do play a part in the symmetry of the hip and last but not least the Lateral and Medial Rotators should be assessed and palpated to determine their involvement.
So, now to the brass tacks.
The Gluteus Minimus and Gluteus Medius are more often than not the causes of IT band dysfunction.

Gluteus Medius is a Lateral Rotators an Abductor and extensor.
Gluteus Minumus is a Medial Rotator an Abductor and extensor.
Tensor Fascia Latte is a Hip Flexor/ Medial rotator assistor and Abductor.

Check for dysfunction in these muscles. For instance look for limited range of motion, passive stretching of these muscles and asymmetrical behaviors of bilateral muscle groups. These signs and symptoms indicate the need for Myotherapy.
There is no place better in America than Myochanics to get Clinical Myotherapy that works.

Don't be fooled into rubbing the leg with rollers and foolish toys or tools. the cause isn't the IT Band. It is the Muscle under the IT Band.
The Muscle is most likely being neurogenically stimulated into a chronic fatigued state by a MYO-NEURAL Impingement higher up on the lumber plexus.
Don't forget that if you aren't supplementing with a legitimate electrolyte concentrate such as Concentrace or 40,000 volts from Trace Minerals you are essentially neglecting your highly trained body. Kinda like driving a car with little to no coolant in the radiator.

Fly in to the Lockhart Airport and get a loaner car if you have your own plane or call us to book your appointments.
We do a Wellness Plan for 6 visits to wellness.
Contact us at 512-376-2877
Donald is a license Myotherapist, Instuctor and CE Provider.
If you are a licensed therapist and would like advise and mentorship contact Donald for details.