Epidemiology

The incidence of the syndrome has been estimated to range from 1.6% to 52% depending on the population studied. [9] It is the most common cause of lateral knee pain in runners and cyclists, with a reported incidence as high as 22.2% of all lower extremity injuries. [10] A retrospective analysis of 2002 records of patients with running injuries reported 168 cases of ITBS. The gender distribution was 105 cases in 1070 women and 63 cases in 926 men. [11] A prospective study of 400 female runners found that 16% of running injuries were ITBS. [12] ITBS may also be observed in athletes participating in volleyball, tennis, soccer, skiing, weight lifting, and aerobics. More experienced runners may be less likely to develop ITBS. [13] It is unusual in non-athletes.