First post! Knee pain...

I was three weeks away from my first triathalon when my knee started to give me trouble. Now I'm out of commission for 3 to 5 weeks. My first advice would be to see your doctor and make sure its not a serious injury. Secondly, have someone qualified set you up on the bike. Thirdly, read some more in this forum. There are some great threads on training and nutrition, pedalling technique, knee pain and "ankling" which will give you some new strategies for pain free cycling. I can't wait to get back at it, but I've learned to be patient the next time and not to over train . Hope this helps a bit, and good luck!!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by SilverChez
Hey everyone!

This is my first post in this forum...I look forward to being a part of this community!

My first question is related to knee pain from cycling; I apologize if this a frequently asked question, but I can't seem to find a straight answer anywhere.

Alright...I'm actually a triathlete! I got my first decent bike (after borrowing many bikes 🙂 around the end of May, a trek alpha 1000. At first, my knee was fine, then after one long Saturday morning ride (I had been biking perhaps too zealously for about a week at this point) my left knee had a sharp "pulling" pain on the inside, right below the knee cap.

Of course, I didn't stop biking, just scaled it back a bit. Started physical therapy which helped to quash the majority of the pain. My PT suggested perhaps the biomechanics on my bike weren't correct.

So, I fixed the "tension", I believe also called float? in my clips so my feet could shift how they would naturally go. I also moved my cleats up farther on my shoes (a friend told me they were too far back?). My seat height seems to be fine, sooo...?

I don't have pain really when I ride, just after. It is not the intesity that it was previously, my knee just doesn't feel "right". I'm really at a loss as to what to do...I've biked maybe twice since changing things around...I can run without any pain, and have swam the same amount.

Any suggestions? I'm beginning to become very frusted and feel hopeless.

Thanks all for your patience!

Cat

Hi SilverChez.

Welcome to the community.

I too have done triathlon and had the same knee problem. Running is MUCH harder on the knees then cycling. For the first while, take it easy on the bike. It's not just cardio being worked. Doing a new activity can injure you.

However if this pain is coming on by cycling, it could be your bike's fit. What you've described is likely the big tendon attached to the bottom of your kneecap. Lateral torsion makes it inflamed and can cause serious tendentious and cartilage damage to the kneecap as your cap also receives the same lateral torsion. Usually the seat being too low or too far forward causes this.

I'd suggest dropping a plumb line from your knee cap when clicked into your pedals and in riding position in your seat (have a wall or friend ensuring you don't fall). When the leading pedal is parallel to the ground (ie, 3 O’clock), ensure the string is even or behind the pedal axle. Else, raise the seat or move it back.

I'm experiencing a similar problem but mainly a touch above the knee on the inside part of the leg.
The problem with injury is deciding whether to rest completely or simply scale down the training - as you're trying to do at the moment. Past experiences make me wonder whether ceasing training is really the best way to go about it since, during the lay-off, a degree of fitness is inevitably lost and the injury doesn't always heal so conveniently. I had a serious rotator cuff injury once and, after trying rest periods, opted to train around the injury. Finally it did heal.
I guess what I'm saying is my own experience has been that various injuries will heal when they're ready to heal but it's tough deciding whether to lay off altogether or simply try and train around the problem till it disappears.. Of course, it would be foolish to train through any significant pain and just ignore an injury altogether.
I wonder what most people do in these circumstances, take a complete break or ride less frequently.
Your knee problem will heal up ay some point but I agree it's a pain in the butt to be nagged by such setbacks.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by SilverChez
Hey everyone!

This is my first post in this forum...I look forward to being a part of this community!

My first question is related to knee pain from cycling; I apologize if this a frequently asked question, but I can't seem to find a straight answer anywhere.

Alright...I'm actually a triathlete! I got my first decent bike (after borrowing many bikes 🙂 around the end of May, a trek alpha 1000. At first, my knee was fine, then after one long Saturday morning ride (I had been biking perhaps too zealously for about a week at this point) my left knee had a sharp "pulling" pain on the inside, right below the knee cap.

Of course, I didn't stop biking, just scaled it back a bit. Started physical therapy which helped to quash the majority of the pain. My PT suggested perhaps the biomechanics on my bike weren't correct.

So, I fixed the "tension", I believe also called float? in my clips so my feet could shift how they would naturally go. I also moved my cleats up farther on my shoes (a friend told me they were too far back?). My seat height seems to be fine, sooo...?

I don't have pain really when I ride, just after. It is not the intesity that it was previously, my knee just doesn't feel "right". I'm really at a loss as to what to do...I've biked maybe twice since changing things around...I can run without any pain, and have swam the same amount.

Any suggestions? I'm beginning to become very frusted and feel hopeless.

Thanks all for your patience!

Cat

Hi Cat,

Its important to have the bike setup. Postie has suggested an excellent way to check your setup.

In the meantime you can try

MSM / Glucosamine tablets

and/or Glucosamine Gel.