The effects of alteration in muscle activation on the iliotibial band during an exhaustive run.

Purpose: Long exhausted running causes pain at the lateral femoral epicondyle for some runners. The pain has been revealed to be related to the behavior of the iliotibial band (ITB) during running. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of in-series musculature on the behavior of the ITB in healthy participants during an exhaustive run.

Methods: Twenty-five healthy participants (15 males, 10 females) were recruited in the current study. All participants performed a 30-minute exhaustive run at a self-selected speed with laboratory-provided footwear. Muscle activities of ITB-related muscles including tensor fascia latae (TFL), gluteus maximus (Gmax), gluteus medius (Gmed), biceps femoris (BF), and vastus lateralis (VL) were recorded using surface electromyography (EMG).

Results: Maximum amplitudes at the initial stage (the first minute), the mid stage (the 15-minute), and the end stage (the 30-minute) were compared during the exhaustive running. Significant decreases (p < 0.05) were observed in the maximum amplitudes of the TFL, Gmax, Gmed, and BF at the mid (decreased by ~ 15%) and end (decreased by ~ 30%) stages compared to the initial stage. The onset and the offset remained unaltered during the running (p ≥ 0.05).

Conclusion: The behavior of the healthy ITB might be altered due to the activities of the in-series musculature. Excessive compression forces might be applied to the lateral femoral epicondyle from the ITB to provide stability for the knee joint during an exhaustive run. The findings could provide a basic understanding of the behavior of healthy ITB.