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Tensor Fasciae Latae Muscle
The Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle is a very cool structure. Knee pain, hip pain and lower back pain can stem from this muscle when it is tight. Below is a picture from Grey’s Anatomy. This muscle runs from the “front/lateral side” of the upper thigh and pelvis. It blends into a thick, tendinous structure named the Iliotibial band. IT band for short. The IT band runs down the lateral thigh and attaches into the lateral Tibia. This is just below the knee. The Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL), when tight can cause pain and dysfunction. Our video give you a breakdown of this muscle.
What does this muscle do?
The Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle acts on the thigh and hip by flexing the hip. This movement brings the knees towards the chest. It also rotates the thigh medially (towards the mid-line) and brings the thigh outwards from the mid-line.
The real cool thing about this muscle, is that it also helps stabilize the lateral knee. This is done with the help of another muscle, Gluteus Maximus. The Gluteus Maximus also blends into the the IT band.
When these muscles contract, it pulls on the IT band and tightens it, stabilizing the lateral knee.
How does it become problematic?
When the Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle becomes tight it can cause issues with the upper thigh and hip. In fact the muscle trigger point refers to the front/lateral side of the upper thigh.
The muscle is a hip flexor. If you are a runner and constantly doing hills, then this muscle can become very tight. It can also be cause by prolonged sitting. This is the case of many office workers.
The pelvis is affected by its attachment. If one side is tighter, it can cause the pelvis to be “pulled” to one side. This can impact the hip, lower back and knee.
How else can it impact the knee? If this muscle becomes tight on one side. It can also mean that the lateral side of that thigh has other structures that are tight. This can be both muscles and the fascia. If you add weak muscles on the inside of the thigh, you might experience pain. This pain can result from tracking issues of the patella.
Usually with the Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle, other muscles contribute to the problem. For example, there often is a lot of tightness in another hip flexor. The Iliopsoas. Also the Glute muscles can be involved.
What happens is that a chain reaction occurs when o a muscle of the pelvis and hips become tight. There will be compensation and “other” areas of tightness and pain. This also need to e addressed.
How does Deep Tissue Massage help?
When the Tensor Fasciae Latae become tight, it can be very stubborn to release. What this form of aggressive massage does, is that it can provide a stretch that a “light” massage misses. Also it can access deeper into the muscle where there can be trigger points.
Other thick powerful muscles can be involved such as the Gluteus Maximus and other thigh muscles. Deep tissue massage is the choice to get these muscles to relax.
Typically TFL issues are chronic issues. Usually long term, months to years. It is a muscle that does get often overlooked. Once it is recognized as the primary exacerbator or root, treatments tend to have longer term positive outcomes.
If you suspect that your Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle is the issue, contact us and we can discuss your treatment.
More Resources:
The Iliopsoas is another hip flexor. In fact the most powerful hip flexor in the body! These two muscles are related in regards to pain symptoms. Learn more about the Iliopsoas in this video. Here is a pressure point to release tight Tensor Fasciae Latae muscles from our Pain Relief Fitness site, vorc.ca.
