The injury that ended a season
Midway through marathon training, a sharp pain on the outside of the knee stopped one of our patients at mile nine — classic iliotibial band irritation, compounded by weak glutes and a sudden mileage jump. Running through it for two more weeks only made things worse.
The turning point was objective testing. Bilateral strength screening showed the injured leg producing 30% less force through the hip abductors. That number became the program: manual therapy to calm the irritated tissue, then progressive single-leg loading until the gap closed below 10%.
The comeback plan
Over ten weeks the program moved through walk-jog intervals, hill-free base building, and finally hop testing to clear the knee for full training. The patient finished the rescheduled marathon pain-free — and with a year-round strength routine that has kept the injury from returning.
- Test both sides: rehab targets are numbers, not feelings.
- Load progressively: tissue adapts when stress rises gradually.
- Keep the strength work after clearance — prevention is the final phase.
Keep reading
Daily habits and gentle exercise for a healthier back →
Why spinal alignment matters for everyday posture →