pain at top of knee cap only on one leg and after riding?

[Palaeodom]

I get a dull to slightly sharp aching pain at the top of my knee cap on my left leg which starts a few hours after i've finished a longish ride. I can't feel it when i ride but my knee also 'clicks' a lot more than it used to for some reason.

 

Any ideas on what this may be before i go to the physio?

 

Saddle position springs to mind instantly but i've checked and re-checked it. Would you put it forwarda a bit or backwards a bit as i'll have to do some trial (or lots of trails) and error.

[Rydogg]

I rate trial and error is the best way for you to find a good seat position. I used to have the same thing, but only when I rode my road bike. The saddle was too far forward...

 

Also, low cadence will do that to you sometimes. Try spinning a bit faster and avoid the slow cranking and see if that makes a difference.

[Palaeodom]

Thanks, i've been told my left leg is a little shorter than my right so maybe thats it. Should I set up my saddle for the shorter leg and let the longer compensate, or the other way around? The difference certainly isn't enough to warrant two different crank arm lengths that for sure.

[Bike Mob]

Saddle too low, or Low cadence power intervals will do that. You can shift your saddle back if you cant go higher to change your angle of attack at the top of the pedal stroke.

 

If it's in the centre of your knee...

 

If it's off to the side it's cleat position or tight ITB.

[Palaeodom]

yep the tight ITB may be it too, I'm going to focus the saddle position on the left leg as the femur is slightly shorter and the saddle could come forward a couple of cm's to get the plumb bob right down the center of the pedal. The left will have to be a couple of cm's to far forward till i get it right. just done some ITB research, when i press down on the ITB there's a definate ache right where my knee hurts after rides. interesting.

 

Thanks for the tips.

[Palaeodom]

How do you check your cleat position? I recently changed a bunch of bits on the bike, including pedals and seat post, so getting these right is taking a bit of time.

[David Marshall]

I reckon it's worth getting a professional bike set up where the person is competent enough to insert cleat wedges or shoe supports as well as bike fit.

[Palaeodom]

I am tempted to do the bike setup but i'm changing quite a few things on the bike at the moment looking for the best combination so ti buy a new bike setup everytime is quite expensive. I'd rather get it right myself and then be able to diagnose issues and solutions on my future bikes.

 

If it continues and i can't get the combination right then i'll go and get some help from some pros. I figure there's quite a bit of experience floating around the hub to give me some ideas of things to tweek.

[Minion]

It sounds like patellar tendonitis. Go and see a physio and don't ignore it.

 

My experience of it is that it's very difficult to nail down the exact cause and it takes a long to heal properly - it's been almost five months since I last did a long ride and I'm still not convinced I've got the problem sorted.

[Palaeodom]

It sounds like patellar tendonitis. Go and see a physio and don't ignore it.

 

My experience of it is that it's very difficult to nail down the exact cause and it takes a long to heal properly - it's been almost five months since I last did a long ride and I'm still not convinced I've got the problem sorted.

 

 

Man that sucks. I spent most of last year off the bike with a torn intercostal so i'm doing my best to ignore any niggles at the moment, just loving being back on the bike. I will go by a physio though if a couple of saddle adjustments don't do it. It doesn't hurt at all when i'm riding but i suppose its when it all cools down and nerves and things become enflamed that the pain starts...

[wapad]

Man that sucks. I spent most of last year off the bike with a torn intercostal so i'm doing my best to ignore any niggles at the moment, just loving being back on the bike. I will go by a physio though if a couple of saddle adjustments don't do it. It doesn't hurt at all when i'm riding but i suppose its when it all cools down and nerves and things become enflamed that the pain starts...

 

 

After seeing the physio you can also try sports massage the couple times I went before and after the Argus the mass.. (cant spell that) commented on how tight my ITB band was. In the apr ride mag there are one or two good stretches for the legs and joints

 

also a tip she gave me was to bath in epsom salts to loosen the legs up

 

but first get it checked out by a decent physio

[Jakkals.]

I got a sharp pain in the bottom left part of my knee cap on my right leg. I think this is where the knee cap is attached to a ligament. Any recommendation?

 

Thanks

[Gas]

Got the same thing as antonj. When I Change cleats (float) the level of pain differs.

[Bike Mob]

I got a sharp pain in the bottom left part of my knee cap on my right leg. I think this is where the knee cap is attached to a ligament. Any recommendation?

 

Thanks

 

That sound like a tight ITB...massage your outer thigh and look up some ITB stretches

[Minion]

That sound like a tight ITB...massage your outer thigh and look up some ITB stretches

As far as I know, the ITB goes past the outside of the knee, not by the kneecap?

[Bike Mob]

As far as I know, the ITB goes past the outside of the knee, not by the kneecap?

 

sorry yeah his post says inside... not itb then

 

could be a cleat issue heel rotated too far inside... do you rub your crank arms?

Edited April 11, 2011 by Tarmac-SL3