Dodgy Knee...help!

[amorphous]

Hi Guys,

I ride a hybrid bike, and I am dogged with left knee pain, mainly on the outside.

I have recently upped my ride from about 25-30 miles to 50-60 miles (I'm in training for a tour around spain in April)


As I said, I am experiencing knee pain, predominantly in the left knee with the occasional twinge in the right. This appears to be quite random....last week I did 60 miles without problem, today I felt pain after about 20 miles.

I have tried lower gears, higher cadence....and higher gears, lower cadence.....the former is marginally better
I have tried increasing my saddle height....high as possible is marginally better.
I have tried altering my feet position on the peddles, I have tried aligning my knee directly over the ankle...nothing seems to help.

Has anybody got any other ideas I can try?
Are knee supports the answer?
...or are my joints just f**ked with old age (37y.o.)


Any help greatly appreciated.....I need to get this nailed before April!!

 

[PpPete]

That sort of pain is often down to saddle too low - but you might need wedges to get foot angled right on pedal. Get thee to a bike shop that offers a proper fitting service. Knee supports are very unlikely to help IMO

 

[RedBike]

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Perhaps a visit to a sports physio?

 

[Tigerbiten]

I've had that type of problem in my knees for the last 40 years, razor blades in them if I do to much.
I find that Glucosimine and Ibuprofen help to keep the pain at bay/repair the damage.
But it could take a few weeks before/if you feel any difference.

Luck ..........

 

[carpiste]

I`ve had trouble with my knees for a couple of years and had micro-fracture surgery on the left one and ready for another op on the right one.
The problem with knees are they are very complicated and a work of very complicated engineering.A sports physio may help,but there is nothing like
seeking specialist help. Go see your doctor and arrange for a scan!
I recently had one and they have found an aneurism! Yes this thing was hiding at the back of the leg.It could have been life threatening but it is all under control right now and hasn`t stopped me cycling.As for the other aches and pains I have been given professional advice and still getting about quite nicely.
Go see your doctor.That`s my best advice.

 

[amorphous]

Hi Guys,

I ride a hybrid bike, and I am dogged with left knee pain, mainly on the outside.

I have recently upped my ride from about 25-30 miles to 50-60 miles (I'm in training for a tour around spain in April)


As I said, I am experiencing knee pain, predominantly in the left knee with the occasional twinge in the right. This appears to be quite random....last week I did 60 miles without problem, today I felt pain after about 20 miles.

I have tried lower gears, higher cadence....and higher gears, lower cadence.....the former is marginally better
I have tried increasing my saddle height....high as possible is marginally better.
I have tried altering my feet position on the peddles, I have tried aligning my knee directly over the ankle...nothing seems to help.

Has anybody got any other ideas I can try?
Are knee supports the answer?
...or are my joints just f**ked with old age (37y.o.)


Any help greatly appreciated.....I need to get this nailed before April!!

Thanks guys....I'm due a visit to my local bike shop tomorrow...so I'll ask them advice about bike setup and pedal wedges.

I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor too, and see what they can advise.

 

[Chrisc]

Thanks guys....I'm due a visit to my local bike shop tomorrow...so I'll ask them advice about bike setup and pedal wedges.

I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor too, and see what they can advise.

My experience of outside knee pain is ITB stress. Gradual onset during a ride, if avoidable don't ride through it. It only gets worse as it's an overuse injury. I had to ride the final 30 miles of a 100 miler in agony in both knees yesterday unfortunately. Not suffered this for months but hell fire that was nasty.

Have a look here.
http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_4249.shtml

 

[RedBike]

That sort of pain is often down to saddle too low - but you might need wedges to get foot angled right on pedal. Get thee to a bike shop that offers a proper fitting service. Knee supports are very unlikely to help IMO

I knackered my ankle a few months ago. Since then i've been having all sorts of trouble with my heal clipping the chainstays and my knee hitting the cross bar. I've found that simply adding gel inserts (designed for people who are flat footed) have really helped. They work just like a wedge, they keep your foot angled correctly as you pedal and therefore stop your knee 'wondering' around.

 

[bennydorano]

I ride with a knee strap continuously, bar the odd bit of nipping behind the knee it's fine.

 

[snorri]

Perhaps you are overtraining, do you really need to train, at 37 y/o, for a tour next year?
Unless of course it is to be a particularly arduous or high speed tour.

 

[dellzeqq]

Are you on clipless pedals. Could it be that your feet are not quite straight?

I found that knee pain disappeared when I changed to float-free cleats - but other people have said the exact opposite. I reckon you're in for a spell of experimentation.

 

[philipbh]

Thanks guys....I'm due a visit to my local bike shop tomorrow...so I'll ask them advice about bike setup and pedal wedges.

I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor too, and see what they can advise.

Question: do you only experience the pain when riding?

I had some pain on the outside of my knee that was diagnosed as a lateral colateral ligament sprain - caused by twisting the knee under stress - the Doc seemed to think that, since I don't play any contact sports, it was gardening induced most likely digging the vegetable garden / shifting & turning compost etc

Pain comes and goes - on or off the bike

Just a thought...