Category: Myofascial Release
February 3rd, 2009
You’d be impressed about how many people stop working out because they suffer from knee pain.
After so many years/clients, I found that 95% of the times it’s just because their quads or ITB (Iliotibial bands) are tight. The ITB is a layer of connective tissue that runs from the gluteus to the outside of the shin just below the knee. It helps extend the knee and stabilize the leg during movement. Overuse and inflexibility can shorten the ITB, causing hip and knee pain...usually guys get pain on the knees and girls on the hips, but it really depends on what type of sport or activity this person does.
How to alleviate the knee/hip pain? What you have are knots and unless you’re a Pro-athlete who can get a massage every other day, you need to get a foam roller and do a self-myofascial release before you start your exercise routine. This will warm up the muscles, eliminate any knots and prevent future injuries (pain).
You can buy a foam roller at Perform Better.com, and to make this short and sweet you can find a video and a PDF with the explanations on how to use the foam roller.
If any of these alleviates the pain, consult with your doctor.
Have a pain free day!!
Lalo Fuentes
Private Trainer, Chef & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California
