Beginners and Beyond

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IT band strap causing chafing and bruising...help! (Read 94 times)

kristin10185


Skirt Runner

    Anyone who has ever worn one of those IT band support straps that go above the knee.....

     

    I have one by Pro Tech that I got from my LRS recommended by my physical therapist.

     

    When I wore it above my tights I had issues with it constantly slipping down during the run and needing to be adjusted a thousand times and driving me crazy. My PT told me to put it under the tights so the rubber could grip the skin. He said make it REALLY tight so it stays in place and does its job in supporting the ITB. Started doing that, and it stays put now.

     

    Today was my longest run since I began wearing the thing under the tights (5th run with it under the tights)....went 3.5 miles which isn't exactly a very long run. But the thing did a number on my leg today. UGH. Lots of chafing, and the velcro actually cut my leg and made it bleed a little (my thigh is bigger I guess than normal thighs because part of the velcro does not overlap onto the strap and is against my skin). And on top of it, the part with the little nub that compresses the ITB caused a realllllly bad bruise. My runs are only going to get longer...but any longer today and my leg would have really been a total mess. It looks like I was abused or had a horrible accident with the scrape from velcro, chafed and bruised skin. Any tips??!? If I put Body Glide on it, will it slip down? Is it just too tight?! (but if it's looser won't it slip down?) Help!

    PRs:   5K- 28:16 (5/5/13)      10K- 1:00:13 (10/27/13)    4M- 41:43 (9/7/13)   15K- 1:34:25  (8/17/13)    10M- 1:56:30 (4/6/14)     HM- 2:20:16 (4/13/14)     Full- 5:55:33 (11/1/15)

     

    I started a blog about running :) Check it out if you care to

    kristin10185


    Skirt Runner

      No one has used one of those straps before and not had their leg destroyed? Sad

      PRs:   5K- 28:16 (5/5/13)      10K- 1:00:13 (10/27/13)    4M- 41:43 (9/7/13)   15K- 1:34:25  (8/17/13)    10M- 1:56:30 (4/6/14)     HM- 2:20:16 (4/13/14)     Full- 5:55:33 (11/1/15)

       

      I started a blog about running :) Check it out if you care to

      So_Im_a_Runner


      Go figure

        All I can think of is something low tech, like wrapping a bandana around it or covering the exposed Velcro part where it doesn't reach with electrical tape.

        Trying to find some more hay to restock the barn


        Ball of Fury

          I agree with SIAR.  My I-pod holder chafes my arm no matter how much body glide I use...the Velcro just rubs no matter what I do.  I actually have a scar from wearing it in my marathon in Jan.  Next time I wear it with short sleeves, I plan to wrap part of an old shirt around my arm first to see if that helps.  That's what I would do if I were you!

          PRs:  5K 22:59, 10K 46:54,HM: 1:51:15

          Awood_Runner


          Smaller By The Day

            I've never worn one, but I agree that you need to find a way to cover the velcro.  I could see how that would eat you alive.

            Improvements

            Weight 100 pounds lost

            5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)

            10K 48:59 April 2013

            HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013

            MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013

            kristin10185


            Skirt Runner

              Thanks for responding! won't a bandana or old shirt make it slip though?

              PRs:   5K- 28:16 (5/5/13)      10K- 1:00:13 (10/27/13)    4M- 41:43 (9/7/13)   15K- 1:34:25  (8/17/13)    10M- 1:56:30 (4/6/14)     HM- 2:20:16 (4/13/14)     Full- 5:55:33 (11/1/15)

               

              I started a blog about running :) Check it out if you care to

              Awood_Runner


              Smaller By The Day

                I wonder if you cut the top out of a cheap swimmers cap if you could make a rubber band that would fit underneath it, and give it traction.  I'm not sure how big those are, or if they'd fit up your leg.  I'm just throwing ideas out there at this point.

                Improvements

                Weight 100 pounds lost

                5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)

                10K 48:59 April 2013

                HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013

                MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013

                kristin10185


                Skirt Runner

                  I like any and all ideas. I think tomorrow may be the first run I've ever dreaded because my leg is still raw and putting that thing on can't feel good!!

                  PRs:   5K- 28:16 (5/5/13)      10K- 1:00:13 (10/27/13)    4M- 41:43 (9/7/13)   15K- 1:34:25  (8/17/13)    10M- 1:56:30 (4/6/14)     HM- 2:20:16 (4/13/14)     Full- 5:55:33 (11/1/15)

                   

                  I started a blog about running :) Check it out if you care to

                  RSX


                    I have seen people wear them, but haven't myself. With knee sleeves, and straps I tried different brands of both which helped when I had issues with either. I'm not sure if that would make a difference in your case.

                    Jnfr Jogs


                      I don't think any support or therapy or brace should cause you so much damage - that can't be good. If your shoe were doing this much damage to your foot, would you continue wearing it?  I think you should wear tights tomorrow and use something else like an Ace bandage on top of the tights.

                      If it bruised you, it was much too tight.  Let the chafed area and bruised area heal before using that strap again. Just my opinion! Big grin

                      bluerun


                      Super B****

                        I have those straps, and I've chafed from it if I didn't wear it over tights... BodyGlide fixed that.  But it wasn't from the velcro -- how is the velcro in contact with your skin?

                        chasing the impossible

                         

                        because i never shut up ... i blog

                          I'm not familiar with the IT band strap exactly, but I have the Pro-Tec patellar tendon strap which is worn below the knee. I guess the IT band strap is different , because I don't see how the velcro would be in contact with the skin either--it wouldn't happen with mine, since the velcro is on the outside. Does sound like you were wearing it too tight. I did get some chafing with mine, but only on longer runs (I was running over 50 mpw and wearing on every run) and it was fairly minimal.. I did sometimes have to adjust it during the run if it was bugging me, and I'd loosen just a hair and it generally got better... then my knee quit acting up, and I haven't had to wear it the last month or so. But the velcro could not have been against my skin if I was wearing it correctly, so maybe the IT band one is different...I dunno. Maybe try a different brand or something and see if the store will let you take out of the package to see it. You might be able to find one that's more comfortable. The patellar tendon strap did do me a lot of good when I needed it.

                          PRs: 5K: 21:25, 10K: 44:05, HM: 1:38:23* (downhill), M: 3:32:09

                          Gustav1


                          Fear is a Liar

                            Kristin - do you still need the band? Is it something you will eventually be able to do with out?

                            I'm so vegetarian I don't even eat animal crackers!

                            kristin10185


                            Skirt Runner

                              Thanks for responding! This is how the velcro contacts my skin, this is the inside of the strap:

                              The rounded part at the end is velcro and so is the square. The rounded part at the end overlaps back over the other side of the strap and keeps the strap on. The square piece of velcro I am assuming is supposed to also overlap but my thigh is too damn big and it does not reach, so it rests on the skin of my thigh. I could probably cover that with something...like tape as someone said. If you can tell, the inside is a rubber surface that keeps it from slipping, so if fabric or tights were worn between the rubber and my skin, it would not stay up. *sigh*

                               

                              Gustav- yes I still need it. I don't know if I will need it forever. I forgot to ask my PT that before I finished PT...

                              PRs:   5K- 28:16 (5/5/13)      10K- 1:00:13 (10/27/13)    4M- 41:43 (9/7/13)   15K- 1:34:25  (8/17/13)    10M- 1:56:30 (4/6/14)     HM- 2:20:16 (4/13/14)     Full- 5:55:33 (11/1/15)

                               

                              I started a blog about running :) Check it out if you care to

                                Would you be able to get a seam ripper and take the velcro on the inside out?

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