Knee Pain???

     An injury to a runner at some point in their running time period is practically unavoidable. In fact, we create tiny injuries in our muscles every time we run, which in time heal, making us stronger. Although it is expected as an individual that our body will need a rest or break at some point, it is best to keep an optimistic mind and prevent the injury from happening in the first place.
    You may try to be a champ and fight through the pain of not so common injuries, figuring they may go away. And some, with time, can do just that. But most injuries become harder to treat the longer you "be a champ" and just deal with them.
     Personally, I have and (you guessed it) gone to physical therapy for the lovely injury of the IT Band Friction Syndrome. Although I have high praises for all types of cross training, this injury I acquired partially from cross training to avoid putting any further stress on my shins. The IT Band injury can come from the elliptical machine. This machine, although a wonder at what it can do for the body, places your hips in a position that puts extra stress on your IT Bands, causing irritation and friction right where you don't want it.
     What is interesting about IT Band injuries is that you often don't know you're injured until you begin to feel pain in your knee. I began to feel the pain on the left side of my left knee (my left, to anyone else addressing my knee: their right). Assuming I was just sore from physical therapy exercises for my shins, I shook it off and didn't mention it at physical therapy for a few days. Once I started having trouble walking, and nearly collapsing going up the stairs I decided I was not just sore and addressed my physical therapist with the problem.
    Sure enough, my IT Band was causing the knee pain, and let me tell you, the most painful massage I've had yet was to come short after the diagnosis.
   I find it rather ironic I developed an IT Band injury due to hip and glute weakness when I have been working daily on those exact muscles and areas to strengthen and prevent any injury. What can I say? That's life.