IT Band Syndrome

Western sports medicine views chronic inflammatory dietary patterns (processed foods, trans fats, fructose, and alcohol) as hindering tissue repair by increasing cytokine levels. Omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and vitamin C contribute to collagen synthesis and anti-inflammation. The timing of protein intake after exercise is also crucial for muscle and ligament resynthesis. Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic Korean medicine views greasy, sweet, and cold foods as damaging digestive function, generating damp energy such as waste products and phlegm; when this blocks pathways and combines with stagnant blood, it exacerbates stiffness and pain in muscles and ligaments. Alcohol disrupts the liver's circulatory function, reducing ligament flexibility. During treatment, reducing flour-based foods, cold foods, and alcohol consumption, while consuming sufficient amounts of ingredients that nourish the liver and kidneys—such as beef broth, black sesame seeds, and walnuts—creates synergy for the absorption of herbal medicine and tissue regeneration.