Victor Forge
The human body is made up of hundreds of muscles that enable movement and support the body. These muscles are made of thousands of small fibres woven together. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that support the body's weight and enable movement. They are attached to the bones of the skeletal system and make up about half of a person's body weight. Smooth muscles, on the other hand, are involuntary muscles that line the inside of organs like the intestines and lungs, helping with essential functions such as digestion and breathing. The heart is composed of cardiac muscle, which contracts involuntarily to pump blood throughout the body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) |
| Cause | Iliotibial band gets irritated or swollen from rubbing against hip or knee bones |
| Symptoms | Aching or sharp pain on the outside of the knee or hip |
| Treatment | Physical therapy, medications or rarely, surgery |
| Risk Factors | One leg longer than the other, knee arthritis, rotating ankle/leg/foot inward, weakness in hip/butt/abdominal muscles, frequent running, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Skeletal muscles are voluntary and comprise 30-40% of body mass
Skeletal muscles are a vital part of the musculoskeletal system. They are attached to bones by tendons, allowing for a wide range of movements and functions. These muscles are under voluntary control, meaning that you can consciously decide how and when they move. For instance, when you reach for a book on a shelf, you are using the skeletal muscles in your neck, arm, and shoulder.
Skeletal muscles comprise 30-40% of an individual's total body mass. They are composed of striated, multinucleated muscle fibers that range from 10 to 100 micrometers in diameter and can be several centimeters long. These muscle fibers are bundled together, forming a highly organized tissue. Each muscle fiber is encased in a tubular sheath called the sarcolemma, which separates the extracellular and intracellular compartments.
The sarcolemma is composed of a plasma membrane and a polysaccharide coating that fuses with tendon fibers. It also contains invaginations called transverse tubules (T tubules), which facilitate ion exchange. Skeletal muscle fibers are made up of three layers: the endomysium, perimysium, and epimysium, with the endomysium being a layer of connective tissue surrounding each muscle fiber. Capillaries and nerve tissue within the endomysium supply the individual muscle fibers with blood and neural inputs.
Skeletal muscles are essential for various functions in the body, including producing movement, maintaining posture and body position, regulating body temperature, storing nutrients, and stabilizing joints. The amount of skeletal muscle mass varies among individuals, with males typically having more muscle mass than females. Taller and overweight individuals also tend to have higher muscle mass. Additionally, muscle mass tends to decrease with age.
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Cardiac muscle is involuntary and pumps blood
The human body contains three kinds of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Cardiac muscle tissue, also called myocardium, exists only in the heart. It is involuntary and contracts and releases to keep the heart pumping blood around the body.
The heart is made up of three layers—the pericardium, myocardium, and endocardium. The endocardium is not cardiac muscle and is comprised of simple squamous epithelial cells and forms the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. The pericardium is a fibrous sac surrounding the heart, consisting of the epicardium, pericardial space, parietal pericardium, and fibrous pericardium. The cardiac muscle is responsible for the contractility of the heart and, therefore, the pumping action.
Cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) are striated, branched, and contain many mitochondria. Each myocyte contains a single, centrally located nucleus surrounded by a cell membrane known as the sarcolemma. The sarcolemma of cardiac muscle cells contains voltage-gated calcium channels, specialized ion channels that skeletal muscle does not possess. The cardiac muscle cells contain branched fibres connected via intercalated discs that contain gap junctions and desmosomes. These interconnections allow the cardiomyocytes to contract together synchronously to enable the heart to work as a pump.
The primary function of cardiac muscle is to pump blood into circulation by generating sufficient force. The mechanism behind each coordinated contraction involves the cardiac muscle and electrical impulses. These contractile functions of the heart require ATP, which can be obtained through various substrates, including fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and ketones.
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Smooth muscle is also involuntary and lines internal organs
Smooth muscle is a type of muscle tissue that is involuntary, meaning it moves without conscious thought. It lines the inside of some internal organs, including the stomach, intestines, bladder, and uterus. Smooth muscle is also found in the walls of blood vessels (excluding large elastic arteries) and lymph vessels, as well as in the urinary, digestive, and reproductive tracts.
Smooth muscle plays a crucial role in maintaining vital signs and is involved in the disease process throughout the body. For example, in the cardiovascular system, smooth muscle helps maintain blood pressure and flow; in the lungs, it opens and closes airways; and in the gastrointestinal system, it aids in motility and nutrition collection. Smooth muscle is also important in the female and male reproductive systems, the urinary system, the respiratory system, and the digestive system.
The ability of smooth muscle to be elastic and maintain contractility is essential in certain organs, such as the intestines and urinary bladder. Smooth muscle cells secrete an extracellular matrix containing collagen, elastin, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, contributing to its elasticity. This elasticity allows for the stretching and relaxation of smooth muscle, which is important in organ systems like the urinary bladder, where contractile tone must be preserved.
Smooth muscle differs from skeletal muscle in structure, function, and regulation of contraction. It is non-striated, meaning it does not have sarcomeres and therefore lacks striations or bands. Smooth muscle consists of thick and thin filaments that give it a homogeneous appearance under a microscope. The contraction of smooth muscle is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which uses hormones, neurotransmitters, and receptors to regulate it.
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Iliotibial band syndrome is a common injury
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), now known as Iliotibial Band Pain or lateral knee pain, is a common knee injury that usually presents with pain and/or tenderness on the outside of the knee. It is considered a non-traumatic overuse injury, often seen in runners, and is the cause of about 12% of running injuries. Iliotibial band syndrome is more common in females than males and is also observed in more than 20% of US Marines during training.
ITBS is caused when the iliotibial band, a tendon that runs from the hip to the knee, becomes irritated or swollen from rubbing against the hip or knee bones. This irritation can be due to various reasons, including excessive foot pronation, where the foot rotates outward, bringing the tendon closer to the bones. Other causes include pre-existing hip abductor weakness, where the hip turns away from the body, and internal tibial torsion, where the tibia (shinbone) twists inward. These conditions can pull the iliotibial band tighter, causing it to rub against the bones and leading to inflammation and pain.
The pain associated with ITBS typically starts after exercising and worsens over time. Initially, it may be described as aching and burning, but as the syndrome progresses, the pain becomes sharper. The pain is felt when the tense iliotibial band rubs against the lateral epicondyle, located on the outside of the knee near the bottom of the femur. This friction causes inflammation and pain that can be managed through physical therapy, medication, or, in rare cases, surgery.
To prevent ITBS, individuals should focus on correcting any risk factors or training errors that may contribute to the injury. This includes implementing a comprehensive exercise program that improves flexibility, strength training, and control at the pelvis, hips, knees, feet, and ankles. Consulting a health and fitness professional is essential before starting any new training or rehabilitation program.
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Muscle mass varies with age, height, and weight
The iliotibial band is a tendon that runs from the hip to the knee. Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a condition where the tendon gets irritated and swollen from rubbing against the hip or knee bones, causing sharp pain. ITBS is common among athletes, long-distance runners, and U.S. Marines during training.
Now, onto the topic of muscle mass and its variation with age, height, and weight. Firstly, it is important to note that muscle mass is challenging to measure as it depends on various factors, including height, diet, ethnicity, fitness level, and body size. There are no standard guidelines on the ideal muscle mass for a person. However, it is beneficial to maintain a healthy percentage of muscle mass as it reduces the risk of age-related muscle loss and helps maintain a healthy weight.
Muscle mass tends to decrease with age, and this process is known as sarcopenia. Beginning around age 40, people may lose up to 8% of their muscle mass every decade. Sarcopenia is characterized by low muscle mass, reduced function, and strength, leading to frailty and increased risk of injuries and health conditions. Men and women experience different trends in body composition with age, with aging males tending to have higher fat percentages and lower skeletal muscle mass.
Studies have shown that skeletal muscle mass adjusted by height correlates better with muscular functions than when adjusted by body weight. This correlation was observed in a cohort of elderly individuals, with men having higher skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and leg endurance than women.
To maintain and build muscle mass, exercise and good nutrition are crucial. Strength training, also known as resistance or weight training, is particularly effective in building muscle mass by forcing the muscles to work against resistance. Additionally, forms of exercise that increase muscle mass may provide mental health benefits, as suggested by clinical trials indicating that resistance training can improve symptoms of depression.
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Frequently asked questions
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is a condition where a tendon called the iliotibial band gets irritated or swollen from rubbing against hip or knee bones, causing sharp pain.
If you are experiencing aching or sharp pain on the outside of your knee or hip, you might have a tight iliotibial band.
Possible causes of a tight iliotibial band include excessive foot pronation, where the foot naturally rotates outward, and pre-existing internal tibial torsion, where the tibia (shinbone) is twisted inward.
Iliotibial band syndrome is common among U.S. Marines during training, with more than 20% affected. It is also prevalent among long-distance runners, with approximately 12% of running injuries attributed to ITBS.
