BEST SHOES FOR KNEE PAIN IN KANSAS CITY
IT Band Solutions
The right shoes can protect the integrity of your knees.
Are you experiencing lateral knee pain, especially in long-distance running?
Iliotibia Band Syndrome (IT Band Syndrome) is an overuse injury of the connective tissues that are located on the lateral (that’s fancy for outside) part of thigh and knee. It causes pain and tenderness in those areas, especially just above the knee joint. The Running Well Store prides itself on making sure you feel listened to and that you get the information you need. Our team goes above and beyond to help you find the best shoes (and other helpful products) for your knee pain.
About Knee Pain
When the IT Band becomes tight or inflamed, it creates friction as it rubs against the outer portion of your upper tibia, which causes pain on the outside of the knee. While IT Band Syndrome is often classified as an overuse injury, a variety of individual elements can irritate it, such as one leg being longer than the other, excessive pronation, muscle weakness in the glutes and hips, hamstring weakness, or weak hip muscles. Runners training for a marathon are especially susceptible to the injury due to the combination of high mileage, lack of strength training, unvaried pace and the need to stretch.
Tips for how to treat Knee Pain:
- Reduce Pain and Inflammation
When you start to feel the symptoms of IT Band Syndrome the first step you take should focus on reducing pain and inflammation and increasing mobilization of the IT Band. Rest and ice are your best strategies while reducing pain and inflammation.
- Strengthen and Stretching
Both prevention and treatment of ITBS come from strengthening the hip and gluteal muscles. Why is this so effective? Well, to be frank, most of us have a weak butt (sorry to be the one to tell you). Sedentary jobs and lifestyles contribute to this weakness, but strength training is a simple way to overcome it. - Side Leg Raise:
Lie on your right side with both legs straight. Slowly raise your left leg about 45 degrees, then lower. Repeat on both sides. To make this move more challenging, use an exercise band (we sell those!) around your ankles to increase resistance. Reps: 20–30 on each side - Clam Shell:
Lie on your right side with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle to your torso. Keeping your feet together, use your glutes to slowly open and close your legs like a clamshell. Keep the motion controlled, and don’t allow your pelvis to rock throughout the movement. Use an exercise band just above your knees to increase resistance. Reps: 20–30 on each side - Hip Thrust:
Lie on your back with your arms at your sides, knees bent and your feet on the floor. Pushing your heels into the ground, use your glutes to raise your pelvis up until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders. Lower slowly, then repeat. For a more advanced version, raise one leg into the air and perform the same exercise with each leg individually. Reps: 20–30 on each side
- Massage
Get ready for some good old fashioned “Hurt So Good” through deep-tissue massage. This practice should take place every day and can be completed through the use of foam rollers, percussion therapy and other triggerpoint devices. Maintain fitness with cross training that does not aggravate the IT Band such as swimming or yoga. (If it hurts, try something else.) After the pain subsides, add stretching and strength training while continuing deep tissue massage. - Side Hip Bridge:
Lie on your side with your feet elevated 1–2 feet off the ground on a stable surface. Lift your torso using your hip muscles while keeping your spine stable, then lower slowly. Reps: 10–30 on each side - Side Shuffle:
Stand with your legs about hip-width apart with your Running Well Store exercise band around your ankles. Take 10 steps to the right, then 10 back to the left. This is one set. The exercise band should remain tight enough to provide resistance throughout the entire movement. Reps: 3–5 sets - Pistol Squat:
Stand on your right leg with your left knee raised out in front of you. Slowly lower yourself, balancing on your right leg and allowing your left leg to straighten out in front of you. Try to lower yourself until your quad is just about parallel with the floor, then slowly come back up. Reps: 5–15 per leg - Hip Hike:
Stand on your right foot. Start with your pelvis in a neutral position, and then drop the left side so it is several inches below the right side of your pelvic bone. Use your right hip muscle to lift your left side back to its neutral position. Reps: 10–30 on each side.
Not sure where to start?
The road to recovery is best run cautiously and patiently.
If you live in Kansas City, have knee pain or IT Band syndrome and are seeking premium products to help find relief from your pain, The Running Well Store can help. Schedule a fitting online or simply give your nearest location a call and we’ll provide personalized recommendations to get you back to your fitness goals.
Knee Pain Products
Foam Roller
The foam roller is a great way to massage the inner and outer thighs, calf and glutes. The foam roller is popular because it's easy to use and easy to store at the home, gym or office.
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Exercise Band
Research has found that weak hip muscles and glutes are behind your IT band syndrome. Weak muscles in the hip tend to cause your running form to break down, which puts a lot of stress on the tissues in the knee. The exercise band is a tool that can specifically target and strengthen the hip muscle through exercises such as the side leg raise, clam shell and side shuffle.
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Proper-Fitting Footwear
Shoes can make a world of difference on how much stress and impact radiates up your legs. Many shoes in the guidance category can also assist your body position as you put on longer miles. Replace your old or worn out shoes and see a TRWS Fit Guru for the proper pair.
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IT Band Compression Band
Many of our clients have success with a soft knee strap that is to be worn just above the knee. The band is designed to apply pressure on the iliotibial band while the athlete is running to relieve some of their knee pain.
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