Epidemiology

The incidence of the syndrome has been estimated to range from 1.6% to 52% depending on the population studied.[9][10] 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.[11] A retrospective analysis of 2002 records of patients with running injuries reported 168 cases of iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS). The sex distribution was 105 cases in 1076 women and 63 cases in 926 men.[12] A prospective study of 400 female runners found that 16% of running injuries were ITBS.[13] In a cross-sectional study of 6608 British army recruits, the incidence of ITBS was 6.2%.[14]

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.[15] It is unusual in non-athletes. Variability exists in the reporting methods for ITBS injury rates (e.g., reporting ITBS as a percentage of running injuries rather than as an incidence in the general running population).[16]

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