Knee pain - any advice?

[Deleted]

Hi all,
I've just got back into cycling over the past few months and I keep getting a really bad pain on the outside of my left knee as I push down. It starts about five minutes into any ride and gets progressively worse - I almost had to get off going up Anerley Hill last night which is just embarrassing.
Anyway, I have tried adjusting cleats, changing from fixed to floating and back again, raising my saddle, moving it forward and backward etc. but to no avail.
I plan to go to Cyclefit in Covent Garden to get fitted because I know that they can adjust the cant of your feet with Lewedges - something I can't do.

My question is: should I go to the doctor first and see what they reckon, or should I get my set up sorted first so if the problem continues I know it's not the bike?

Finally, has anyone been cyclefitted - what was it like?

Thanks, Alex.

[Deleted]

Have you considered amputation, Evans have a sale on cycle specific prosthetic legs

If this seems a little extreme try, www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum

Lots of advice to be had on there!

I think Ken (cyclemonkey) went to cyclefit to get measured up for his serotta custom, a couple of weeks ago

[Deleted]

I've been cyclefitted twice. Expensive but well worth it. Your doctor will probably tell you to stop cycling

[Kenneth Foreman]

ronniethescot said:

I think Ken (cyclemonkey) went to cyclefit to get measured up for his serotta custom, a couple of weeks ago

Serotta custom. You are joking. The deposit is more expensive than my current bike.

But on knee pain, the Cyclefit people should be able to advise. Karen is right. A GP will only tell you to stop cycling. Try leg stretches after rides (gently); and what seemed to work for me (oddly) was Cod Liver Oil once a day.

[Deleted]

Cyclefit are expensive but give good advice. I've had wedges (not wedgies I hasten to add) for a few years now and they are the ticket for my knee, they also lowered my saddle and taught me good stretching techniques (as CycleMonkey mentioned). They also advised on a good sports physio and podiatrist who eventually made me a footbed(insole) for my shoes.

[Kevin]

How about spinning gears rather than mashing big ones, might put less pressure on your joints?

[Deleted]

What the GP ought to do is send you to a specialist to have the knee jont checked.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone. It seems that Cyclefit is the way to go. I'll keep you posted.

[IanC]

Mosquito do the same sort of thing and I believe you get a discount if you are in the Dulwich. Also, I would advise stretching. Cyclists are notoriously inflexible and tight quads, hamstrings and IT band (runs down the outside of your thigh) will lead to tendons being pulled out of alignment and rubbing across your patela, which would be a logical explanation for what you describe.

[ML]

www.lssm.com/index.html

Then hit Therapist Directory

Please view this link, A cycle fit will work around what you have got (a bad knee) rather than fix it.....which when it is fixed will make the cycle fit solution incorrect.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the tip.
I'm sure they've though of that though. Their main fitter is an exercise physiologist. You'd expect them to consider the problem you identified.

[Deleted]

Just thought I'd let you know the outcome of my cyclefit appointment.

I've now ridden about 300 miles on (what feels like) my new knee and the difference is amazing.
Apart from a few minor twinges at the start of the first ride when I reckon my knee was just getting used to the wedges and the new set up, I have had zero pain!

This is fantastic, considering I almost had to get off on Anerley Hill one Wednesday night after the chain gang. Most shameful.

Anyway the cycle fit was very comprehensive, adjusting all possible parameters. One worring thing though was that they said the new(!) frame I had just bought was 6cm too small. This ended up not being a problem though as I just needed to get a new stem to match the measurements they gave me.

Best £130 squid I ever spent!

[Deleted]

Sounds like the illiotibial band. I also went to Cyclefit for some insoles and it cleared up pretty quickly for me. You might want to consider doing some specific stretching for it - there is loads of advice on the web.