You Can Stretch Your IT Band – But You Can't Lengthen It (greglehman.ca)

• Foam rolling cannot permanently lengthen the IT band.
• IT band is dense connective tissue, not muscle.
• Stretching alters tension, not length.

"This article clarifies a common misconception: the IT band (iliotibial band) cannot be permanently lengthened by stretching or foam rolling. The author corrects his own blog post from ten years ago, emphasizing that foam rolling can alter tension in the tissue but not permanently deform the band. The discussion focuses on the physiological properties of the IT band compared to muscle tissue."