Standing on the pedals, knees, and have I damaged one of them?

[Mile195]

I strained my left knee a bit yesterday. Standing on the pedals, too big-a gear, pulling away from some traffic lights. I try not to do that too often, but I didn't change down in time as I approached them.

I felt something "go". It made me go ow, but it didn't really hurt as such - I think it just took me by surprise. I cycled 25 miles home later that day without any problem, but I was just careful to keep to low gears pulling away, and higher cadences throughout the trip back.

Today I can feel something, but it's not exactly sore or painful - just a feeling. If I am sitting down the "feeling" seems to be below the knee cap, at the top of the lower part of the leg, but in the soft bit between the bones (I know nothing about the structure so I don't know whether it's muscle, ligament or cartilage).

I'm fairly sanguine about it at the moment - I'll take a few days off cycling and hopefully it will be fine, but I wonder if someone could advise what I've probably done?

Also, when I pedal standing up, I often lock my leg out as I push down - I'm not sure this is actually such a good thing to do (and I should really be keeping a slight bend at the knee perhaps?). Does anybody know better and can advise?

Knowing that evolution made quite a poor job of knees and that once they start becoming problematic they don't ever seem to fully resolve, I'd like to take steps to avoid any more injury before it occurs!

Thanks in advance for any advice!..

 

[Ian H]

I've done things like that a few times. The knees seem to recover.

 

[totallyfixed]

The best advice I can give is spin for now and keep your knees warm.

 

[vickster]

RICE until it recovers. Swelling or buckling which doesn't resolved, consider getting it checked

The soft bit between the bones you describe is likely the meniscus which is remarkably easy to tear, especially after the age of 30 and beyond. In most cases, once torn it doesn't heal

Maybe stay in the saddle from now on

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's incredibly hard to self diagnose or localise knee pain in my experience. It's impossible for us to diagnose on the basis of your description of your experience. And even if wasn't, we still couldn't as we are bunch of random idiots on the internet.

As @vickster says, rest it and see how it goes. I'm not sure I agree with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) because I thought that was for soft tissue not joints.

As to whether you should lock out your knee while riding, I dunno, but it sounds like a very bad idea to me. The only time I ever lock my leg straight is when having a stretch while freewheeling. But I know nothing.

 

[vickster]

It's incredibly hard to self diagnose or localise knee pain in my experience. It's impossible for us to diagnose on the basis of your description of your experience. And even if wasn't, we still couldn't as we are bunch of random idiots on the internet.

As @vickster says, rest it and see how it goes. I'm not sure I agree with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) because I thought that was for soft tissue not joints.

As to whether you should lock out your knee while riding, I dunno, but it sounds like a very bad idea to me. The only time I ever lock my leg straight is when having a stretch while freewheeling. But I know nothing.

It's standard advice for knee injury. The meniscus, ligaments etc are soft tissue. Certainly the advice I received from GP, specialist and physio when I tore my lateral meniscus and had lot of swelling and pain.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's standard advice for knee injury. The meniscus, ligaments etc are soft tissue. Certainly the advice I received from GP, specialist and physio when I tore my lateral meniscus and had lot of swelling and pain.

Fair enough. Just checking.

 

[Mile195]

Thanks all for your replies.

Well there doesn't seem to be any swelling or anything. I think whatever it is, is pretty minor. I'll just take it as a warning and stop getting lazy with gear shifts (although there are 98 sets of lights between home and work (yes, I really have counted them before!) so the temptation of just pushing off in high gears is always there unfortunately).

Any other opinions on best way to ride out of the saddle? It's really time for me to go for a bike fit and learn more about such things, but it realistically won't happen until next month now.

 

[night cycler]

When I first started riding my road bike I would be pounding along in a high (or the highest gear) and before I knew it I was on top of the lights. Now, at about 100 meters away I at least drop down on the front cog and prepare to shift down the cassette if need be, by being very aware of the traffic and what`s going on.

Personally I’m strongly against any peddling out of the saddle. It’s just not worth it. Take it easy on those knees-you`re down to your last pair.

 

[Citius]

Personally I’m strongly against any peddling out of the saddle

Are you against walking and running as well?

 

[vickster]

I have ropey knees. My physio has also advised me against riding out of the saddle. Running a no no too following lateral meniscus excision on both knees. Too much impact on already softened articular cartilage

I realise the pros ride out if the saddle all the time, but they are all rather younger, fitter, better trained and lighter than me!

 

[Mile195]

I have ropey knees. My physio has also advised me against riding out of the saddle. Running a no no too following lateral meniscus excision on both knees. Too much impact on already softened articular cartilage

I realise the pros ride out if the saddle all the time, but they are all rather younger, fitter, better trained and lighter than me!

I don't ride out of the saddle as a matter of course - just for a boost on hills sometimes, and to get moving. This wouldn't be a problem, but unfortunately despite refining my route numerous times over the years, there's still so many places where my regular commute can become very stop-start, which sees me out of the saddle far more than if my commute didn't involve crossing london every day. This is mostly down to traffic lights (some of which are utterly, utterly pointless and unnecessary, such as the 24 hour ones controlling traffic into retail parks that close at 10pm, and "bus gates" that don't serve any night-bus routes etc), but often down to just heavy traffic as well.

Anyway, those are things that I can't do anything about. That's why I wonder whether or not keeping a bend at the knee is physiologically better than locking out the leg when out of the saddle, or if it doesn't actually make any difference whatsoever and both are to be avoided equally.

I had a look at the Wikipedia entry for knees and their structure, but looking at the mechanics of them, I can't really decide for myself which would be better, if either.

If I have to stop getting out of the saddle completely then so be it, but I ride 40 miles a day (return) so my commute is long enough as it is. I'd prefer not to lose the ability to get away and in front of the traffic quickly if I can simply adjust my technique to avoid possibility of injury instead.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

If it carries on being weird find a doctor that can give a shoot.

 

[vickster]

@Mile195 hpw about paying for a couple of sessions on technique with a coach or a cycling physio who understands the mechanics of knees while cycling. My feeling would be having a bend is better. Locking knees doing exercise / weights etc is generally not recommended afaik

I also now don't ride out of the saddle as I was knocked off and quite badly injured while doing so and it may have somehow been a factor

 

[Mile195]

@Mile195 hpw about paying for a couple of sessions on technique with a coach or a cycling physio who understands the mechanics of knees while cycling. My feeling would be having a bend is better. Locking knees doing exercise / weights etc is generally not recommended afaik

I also now don't ride out of the saddle as I was knocked off and quite badly injured while doing so and it may have somehow been a factor

Sorry to hear that. I suppose the main thing is that you can still at least ride sat down, although I expect it must feel like little consolation sometimes.

I definitely think such a session would be money well spent. I plan to go for a bike fit in the new year. Presumably I can get the same kind of advice as a part of that?