Knees ache after rides

Carrera said:

Having rested my knees from climbing for some time, I still find that I get aches after a ride. Yesterday I did a bit of climbing and, sure enough, I can feel aches in both knees today.
I've concluded I don't have an actual knee injury and I think my seat position is O.K. I have my seat fairly high up but also stand most of the time when I climb.
I've been active in sports for many years and ain't getting any younger. But is it common to feel aches in the knees after cycling? I also get similar aches in my hip after a ride and my uncle suggested it may have something to do with the damp. Any thoughts?
P.S. I went through a physio book and no real chronic injury relates to my problem. All I have is stiffness, not intense pain or swelling.

Have you tried higher cadence, in the seat climbing - I find that is easier on my knees then the way you apparently climb.

Hi
I did a 100k ride yesterday and I also have pain in my knee's Now when I say pain what I mean is I can't even push on the pendels and I'm forced to walk.I found out something that helped me alot, when my knee starts to hurt I wait until my leg is fully extended then I force it straight and sort of bend my leg back for a couple of secs, almost straight away the pain has gone and I don't get anymore pain for ages, worth a try. Also if you don't already use them try cleats.

Regards Steve

Funny you should say that. The other day I was climbing a hill and there was another rider opposite me, just in front. There he was pedaling really fast and still seated. There I was busting my ass, standing up and going at it like a bull in a china shop. But I'm out of condition anyway at present.
I wouldn't say I was climbing in big gears by any means but I do tend to stand up more and power my way up hills as opposed to spinning. But staying in the seat does feel tougher on my knees than standing up. The pain has also crept up on me slowly as opposed to any sudden injury.
I read even Armstrong has been suffering from knee tendinitis this year round.

skydive69 said:

Have you tried higher cadence, in the seat climbing - I find that is easier on my knees then the way you apparently climb.

I don't think you should be getting pain in your knees. I don't, and quite a few people I know who ride don't either.

I'd suggest that something needs to change - maybe it's worth paying for a bike position/setup consultation, or look at your cleats/shoes, and maybe it's worth getting your knees checked out by a medical expert, I'd also take a big rest with little or no cycling until you have some specific causes and possible solutions to work with. In any event this is not something I'd personally do a wait and see on, my knees are too precious and I'd take action right away to protect them.

Having suffered through and finally triumphed over serious tendonitis in both my knees, I can, unfortunately, speak with some authority on this topic.

Assuming your bike fits you correctly in all aspects, then the question becomes, what’s going on inside the knees? The two most common culprits are cartilage damage and tendonitis, and I believe tendonitis, specifically patellar tendonitis, is much more common.

As my physical therapist (bless him!) explained to me, there are two keys to curing and preventing tendonitis in the knees. First, you’ve got have sufficient flexibility. Thoroughly stretch your hamstrings, quads, glutes, and IT bands at least once a day (I try to do it twice), and after every ride. The second key is having good strong quads, but it sounds like you’ve got that one licked already, as do most of us by virtue of our wonderful sport!

What worked for me may not work for you, but I found that frequent, deep stretching was the key. Oh, and while you are recovering, try icing your knees after you ride. First, stretch, of course, and then rub an ice cube on the tendon just below the kneecap for about 5 minutes on each knee. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice. Last time I saw a physio he pointed out I have some minor cartiliage wear - but only slight. I'm also aware I have crepitus that I never had till recently.
I took quite a few weeks off riding but still find I get knee aches after a ride. Therefore, I just cut down my riding activity and started to take cod-liver oil and glucosamine.
The big fear is whether I have arthritis in my knees. My knees have actually taken a lot of hammer over the years so suspect there's been some wear and tear of the joint. I've also had aches in the lower back and hip but I seem to be getting on top of the back problem by doing hyper-extensions. Now I just have to find a way to strengthen my knees.
I did find that stretching has made my knees less tight. But I still get a dull ache after a ride (usually more in the morning). In fact, I had this problem when I first started cycling but it disappeared in time, only to resume again several months later.

jhas said:

Having suffered through and finally triumphed over serious tendonitis in both my knees, I can, unfortunately, speak with some authority on this topic.

Assuming your bike fits you correctly in all aspects, then the question becomes, what’s going on inside the knees? The two most common culprits are cartilage damage and tendonitis, and I believe tendonitis, specifically patellar tendonitis, is much more common.

As my physical therapist (bless him!) explained to me, there are two keys to curing and preventing tendonitis in the knees. First, you’ve got have sufficient flexibility. Thoroughly stretch your hamstrings, quads, glutes, and IT bands at least once a day (I try to do it twice), and after every ride. The second key is having good strong quads, but it sounds like you’ve got that one licked already, as do most of us by virtue of our wonderful sport!

What worked for me may not work for you, but I found that frequent, deep stretching was the key. Oh, and while you are recovering, try icing your knees after you ride. First, stretch, of course, and then rub an ice cube on the tendon just below the kneecap for about 5 minutes on each knee. Good luck!