Sharp Pain in my Knee

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A couple of months ago, while on an exercise bike, I felt some
pain in my left knee, inside my knee and just to the left of my
kneecap. I didn't think much of it, but when I went out and was
climbing a good hill that same pain came back in a big way. I was
practically pedalling with one leg.

I stopped biking for two months, then went out two days ago for
a leisure ride on an easy trail. When I went up a hill, though, and
put any kind of power into the pedals, the pain returned. Going
downhill, on the other hand, presented no problem.

I have been running frequently, either four or six miles at a time
and I've felt absolutely no pain in that knee.

I'm told it's likely iliotibial band syndrome, which may be a good
thing since I can alleviate much of the pain with stretching. Will
proper stretching take care of this problem? Has anyone else had
results with stretching? What other methods have people used to
alleviate the pain?

Thanks,

Mike

IMO there are a few things that could be causing the pain. i recommend
seeing a sports physician or physical therapist specializing in sports
medicine. here's my own experience with a similar pain but likely a
different cause:
it was diagnosed generally as "patellar pain disorder" after finding no
cartilage degradation. it was a very sharp pain lateral to the patella that
would occur when hiking downhill, cycling, or running. it turned out the
problem was one of tracking and required the strengthening of the
"vmo-vastus medialus occidentals" quad muscle. therapy did the trick. it was
strange since at the time i was cycling a lot. im still concerned about
getting enough work to this part of the quads by cycling so i keep doing the
therapy. this therapy consists of light weight squats, lunges, wall (skier)
squats, leg extensions etc.
-alan

dreaded said:

"Michael" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A couple of months ago, while on an exercise bike, I felt some
pain in my left knee, inside my knee and just to the left of my
kneecap. I didn't think much of it, but when I went out and was
climbing a good hill that same pain came back in a big way. I was
practically pedalling with one leg.

I stopped biking for two months, then went out two days ago for
a leisure ride on an easy trail. When I went up a hill, though, and
put any kind of power into the pedals, the pain returned. Going
downhill, on the other hand, presented no problem.

I have been running frequently, either four or six miles at a time
and I've felt absolutely no pain in that knee.

I'm told it's likely iliotibial band syndrome, which may be a good
thing since I can alleviate much of the pain with stretching. Will
proper stretching take care of this problem? Has anyone else had
results with stretching? What other methods have people used to
alleviate the pain?

Thanks,

Mike

IMO there are a few things that could be causing the pain. i recommend
seeing a sports physician or physical therapist specializing in sports
medicine. here's my own experience with a similar pain but likely a
different cause:
it was diagnosed generally as "patellar pain disorder" after finding no
cartilage degradation. it was a very sharp pain lateral to the patella that
would occur when hiking downhill, cycling, or running. it turned out the
problem was one of tracking and required the strengthening of the
"vmo-vastus medialus occidentals" quad muscle. therapy did the trick. it was
strange since at the time i was cycling a lot. im still concerned about
getting enough work to this part of the quads by cycling so i keep doing the
therapy. this therapy consists of light weight squats, lunges, wall (skier)
squats, leg extensions etc.
-alan

I'm curious about this. Does cycling not exercise all four quad
muscles? What's the deal here?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

My friend had a lot of IT band problems, to the point where she and doctors felt an operation might be necessary. Taking up yoga fixed it for her in two weeks. That's just her experience though, you should consult a physician to get advice that could be of any use to you.

I had the start of "knee trouble", and was told to concentrate on walking with
my toe pointed forward, not outward "like a duck".

That and making sure that my leg gets straightened out when riding seems to be
helping.

RRon

[email hidden]

Michael said:

A couple of months ago, while on an exercise bike, I felt some
pain in my left knee, inside my knee and just to the left of my
kneecap. I didn't think much of it, but when I went out and was
climbing a good hill that same pain came back in a big way. I was
practically pedalling with one leg.

I stopped biking for two months, then went out two days ago for
a leisure ride on an easy trail. When I went up a hill, though, and
put any kind of power into the pedals, the pain returned. Going
downhill, on the other hand, presented no problem.

I have been running frequently, either four or six miles at a time
and I've felt absolutely no pain in that knee.

I'm told it's likely iliotibial band syndrome, which may be a good
thing since I can alleviate much of the pain with stretching. Will
proper stretching take care of this problem? Has anyone else had
results with stretching? What other methods have people used to
alleviate the pain?

Thanks,

Mike

Start out in the right end. Make sure your position on the bike is correct.
Chances are that this is what is causing your problems. It sounds to me that
simply your saddle is too low.
Have an experienced rider or bike shop help you out with a bikefit.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm curious about this. Does cycling not exercise all four quad
muscles? What's the deal here?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

I don't know for sure what was going on since i was engaged in a lot of
different strenuous activities at the time: running,mtn & road biking,
swimming, hiking and climbing...the end result was a weak VMO and a very
strong lateral set causing the patella to track-outward. my best hypothesis
is that it was from early spd pedals with no float set up improperly. i
still feel like my vmo and medial quads dont get enough work but everyone
else in the universe thinks this must be false including several i have had
help with set-up..everyone BUT the dr and the physical therapist who
originally diagnosed the prob. anyway, whatever it was it's much much better
now due to therapy.
-alan

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm curious about this. Does cycling not exercise all four quad
muscles? What's the deal here?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

I don't know for sure what was going on since i was engaged in a lot of
different strenuous activities at the time: running,mtn & road biking,
swimming, hiking and climbing...the end result was a weak VMO and a very
strong lateral set causing the patella to track-outward. my best hypothesis
is that it was from early spd pedals with no float set up improperly. i
still feel like my vmo and medial quads dont get enough work but everyone
else in the universe thinks this must be false including several i have had
help with set-up..everyone BUT the dr and the physical therapist who
originally diagnosed the prob. anyway, whatever it was it's much much better
now due to therapy.
-alan

dreaded said:

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm curious about this. Does cycling not exercise all four quad
muscles? What's the deal here?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

I don't know for sure what was going on since i was engaged in a lot of
different strenuous activities at the time: running,mtn & road biking,
swimming, hiking and climbing...the end result was a weak VMO and a very
strong lateral set causing the patella to track-outward. my best hypothesis
is that it was from early spd pedals with no float set up improperly. i
still feel like my vmo and medial quads dont get enough work but everyone
else in the universe thinks this must be false including several i have had
help with set-up..everyone BUT the dr and the physical therapist who
originally diagnosed the prob. anyway, whatever it was it's much much better
now due to therapy.
-alan

Hmm. Sounds like it's a good idea to do leg extensions and leg presses,
just in case. I do squats and lunges with my regular strength training,
I wonder if that's good enough.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

dreaded said:

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm curious about this. Does cycling not exercise all four quad
muscles? What's the deal here?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

I don't know for sure what was going on since i was engaged in a lot of
different strenuous activities at the time: running,mtn & road biking,
swimming, hiking and climbing...the end result was a weak VMO and a very
strong lateral set causing the patella to track-outward. my best

hypothesis

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is that it was from early spd pedals with no float set up improperly. i
still feel like my vmo and medial quads dont get enough work but

everyone

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

else in the universe thinks this must be false including several i have

had

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

help with set-up..everyone BUT the dr and the physical therapist who
originally diagnosed the prob. anyway, whatever it was it's much much

better

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

now due to therapy.
-alan

Hmm. Sounds like it's a good idea to do leg extensions and leg presses,
just in case. I do squats and lunges with my regular strength training,
I wonder if that's good enough.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

it's all pt stuff. they say never never a very heavy load. squats are good
if you do then right.
i still like the wall squats the best. the leg extensions seem easy with
only doing 20-25K each side but they really work. the last thing i want to
do is tweak the knees! dont have a way to do leg press at home but those can
also be problematic like the leg extensions because it's easy to do too much
weight.
-alan

dreaded said:

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hmm. Sounds like it's a good idea to do leg extensions and leg presses,
just in case. I do squats and lunges with my regular strength training,
I wonder if that's good enough.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

it's all pt stuff. they say never never a very heavy load. squats are good
if you do then right.
i still like the wall squats the best. the leg extensions seem easy with
only doing 20-25K each side but they really work. the last thing i want to
do is tweak the knees! dont have a way to do leg press at home but those can
also be problematic like the leg extensions because it's easy to do too much
weight.
-alan

I guess I should mention that the topic caught my interest because I
injured my right knee in an auto accident 30 years ago. So far it
hasn't given me any trouble, but ya never know with old injuries, ya
know? Thanks for the info -- it probably never hurts to make sure your
muscles are strong and flexible.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

dreaded said:

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hmm. Sounds like it's a good idea to do leg extensions and leg presses,
just in case. I do squats and lunges with my regular strength training,
I wonder if that's good enough.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

it's all pt stuff. they say never never a very heavy load. squats are

good

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you do then right.
i still like the wall squats the best. the leg extensions seem easy with
only doing 20-25K each side but they really work. the last thing i want

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do is tweak the knees! dont have a way to do leg press at home but those

can

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

also be problematic like the leg extensions because it's easy to do too

much

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weight.
-alan

I guess I should mention that the topic caught my interest because I
injured my right knee in an auto accident 30 years ago. So far it
hasn't given me any trouble, but ya never know with old injuries, ya
know? Thanks for the info -- it probably never hurts to make sure your
muscles are strong and flexible.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

IMO strength training with light-ish weights is so good for you esp. when
getting older! my Mom is 68 and she's getting a total-knee replacement next
week. she was very active her whole life but osteo arthritis had degenerated
her cartilage. her quad muscles were atrophied to a point where she could
not get the knee surery until after extensive PT to strengthen them. it is
hard to underestimate the importance of keeping strong/flexible muscles esp
when our bones get weaker. i know yoga, tai chi and pilates are great too-fo
r that "core" strength but i think strength training is often thought of as
something only young people do.
-alan

dreaded said:

IMO strength training with light-ish weights is so good for you esp. when
getting older! my Mom is 68 and she's getting a total-knee replacement next
week. she was very active her whole life but osteo arthritis had degenerated
her cartilage. her quad muscles were atrophied to a point where she could
not get the knee surery until after extensive PT to strengthen them. it is
hard to underestimate the importance of keeping strong/flexible muscles esp
when our bones get weaker. i know yoga, tai chi and pilates are great too-fo
r that "core" strength but i think strength training is often thought of as
something only young people do.

I know I felt a bit odd about starting strength training early this
summer, being a Middle-Aged Mom (tm). I got used to the idea, and I
think my teenagers are secretly proud of me. And I'm starting to enjoy
seeing what the old carcass is capable of.

-km

--
Only cowards fight kids.
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

the black rose said:

dreaded said:

IMO strength training with light-ish weights is so good for you esp. when
getting older! my Mom is 68 and she's getting a total-knee replacement next
week. she was very active her whole life but osteo arthritis had degenerated
her cartilage. her quad muscles were atrophied to a point where she could
not get the knee surery until after extensive PT to strengthen them. it is
hard to underestimate the importance of keeping strong/flexible muscles esp
when our bones get weaker. i know yoga, tai chi and pilates are great too-fo
r that "core" strength but i think strength training is often thought of as
something only young people do.

I know I felt a bit odd about starting strength training early this
summer, being a Middle-Aged Mom (tm). I got used to the idea, and I
think my teenagers are secretly proud of me. And I'm starting to enjoy
seeing what the old carcass is capable of.

Pardons if you've already said, but I'm curious as to what type of lifting
you're doing. Machine or freeweights?

Oh, I noticed you've added to your .sig. What's the ref?

-B

Quoted message said:

-km

--
Only cowards fight kids.
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

Badger_South said:

Pardons if you've already said, but I'm curious as to what type of lifting
you're doing. Machine or freeweights?

Freeweights. Though I need some better options for abductor/adductor
and lats, the former is impossible and the latter is annoying (I want a
lat tower! *sniff*).

Quoted message said:

Oh, I noticed you've added to your .sig. What's the ref?

The Beslan tragedy. A protestor in Moscow had that on a sign (in
Russian). I'd like to add the cyrillic, but it won't save correctly in
my .sig file.

Killing children is obscene. I wouldn't waste my spit on the Chechen
terrorists who shot fleeing children in the back.

-km

--
Only cowards fight kids.
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

"the black rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Badger_South said:

Pardons if you've already said, but I'm curious as to what type of
lifting you're doing. Machine or freeweights?

Freeweights. Though I need some better options for abductor/adductor

Very hard to do without the right equipment. See
http://www.exrx.net/Articulations/Hip.html#anchor846250. Ankle weights
might be useful up to a point but they tend not to go very heavy.

Quoted message said:

and lats,

Chinups.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Quoted message said:

IMO strength training with light-ish weights is so good for you esp. when
getting older! my Mom is 68 and she's getting a total-knee replacement next
week. she was very active her whole life but osteo arthritis had degenerated
her cartilage. her quad muscles were atrophied to a point where she could
not get the knee surery until after extensive PT to strengthen them. it is
hard to underestimate the importance of keeping strong/flexible muscles esp
when our bones get weaker. i know yoga, tai chi and pilates are great too-fo
r that "core" strength but i think strength training is often thought of as
something only young people do.
-alan

Interestingly strength hangs on as we age and I agree- strength
training is good at any age. There is lots of research that folks 60+
can make significant improvements in strength. Endurance athletes
often ignore the benefits of resistance training and for lots of folks
there is a limited amount of time avavilable but it is good for you.

Perhaps folks could save time for more training by deleting calorie
consumption calculations from their schedules. :-)

gds said:

Interestingly strength hangs on as we age and I agree- strength
training is good at any age. There is lots of research that folks 60+
can make significant improvements in strength.

Weight-bearing exercise also increases bone density at any age.

I leafed through _Cycling Past 50_ at B&N and they cited research
indicating that most of the strength loss accompanying aging is due to
disuse. People who keep using their muscles stay strong, and the
decline in VO2max is also much slower in those who stay fit.

Flexibility is also important. A flexible muscle can contract more
forcefully and is less prone to injury.

-km

--
Only cowards fight kids -- unidentified Moscow protestor
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts