Knee Pain

[webs]

I am struggling with pain in my left knee for about a year now.
It comes and goes.
I cycle and run. Been cycling for 27 years and running for 19 years.

I had no pain for 3 months leading up to the Karoo to Coast this year.
I was only cycling and did no running at all.
Took a week off after K2C and started running as well again with the cycling.
Pain started again when I started running.

Last week I had enough and went to the doctor.
He took X-rays and saw that nothing was wrong with any bones in the knee area.
He gave me some medication to use for about 10 days and told me I should rest for a week.
Can this pain be because of overtrained muscles and what would you guys suggest I do to better my knee?
I've been using the same running shoes for the last 12 years.

Do you think this is running or cycling related?

[fanievb]

My knee issues are running related, no pain or discomfort on the bike

Mix of ITB and cartilage

Cartilage sorted by arthroscopy (not recommended) and slow rehab

ITB sorted with new shoes and foam roller.

[shaper]

Sounds like run related

New pairs of the same running shoes or the original shoes for the last 12 years?

Have you ever been for a run check up to ensure correct shoes and to adjust stride length?

Where is the pain located, front, back, side?

Do you do strength and stretching exercises during the week when not on the bike or running?

[webs]

New pairs of the same model for the last 12 years.

Never been for a run check up.

Pain is in the front of the knee.

I do some squats, leg extensions, hamstring curls in the gym about once a week.

[alleyne]

I also have running issues, mainly ITB. Cycling was never an issue until I really started training harder and longer this year. BG bike fit sorted out all my knee pain instantly, could be worth getting a professional bike fit. 

[shaper]

New pairs of the same model for the last 12 years.

Never been for a run check up.

Pain is in the front of the knee.

I do some squats, leg extensions, hamstring curls in the gym about once a week.

So who selected the right type of shoes in the first place? did you get any advice when buying them?

I would recommend a run check up, where are you located?

Front of knee sounds like "runner's knee" and could be anything from over stretching on your run stride, or your running style or you may drop hip on one side, or the way your foot lands.

Are you sure the shoes you run in are correct for your running style?

Do some abductor and adductor exercises as well

[webs]

Thanks for the advise.

I'm in Bellville. Where can I go for a run check up?

 

And where can I go for a bike setup?

[kingalton]

http://www.ilovebicycling.com/knee-pain-cycling-causes-solutions/

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/take-care-of-your-knees-part-2-17445/

I started getting a pain behind my kneecap on day 2 of W2W, last 15km were excruciating, didn't ride day 3 due to wanting to recover for 94.7.. it seems its a common injury, attached are some articles

[shaper]

Running Analysis http://www.biokinetics-sportscience.co.za/our-services/

 

might want to look at this too http://sic.org.za/what-we-do/what-to-expect/

[Super J]

front of the knee is usually patella tracking, in other words, your knee cap tracking is out, I have the same trouble and what really works is a really tight elastic knee brace/strap, it just makes movement less..... is the pain sort of on the cap, the tendon just below it, and kinda under the knee cap?

[nonky]

New pairs of the same model for the last 12 years.

Never been for a run check up.

Pain is in the front of the knee.

I do some squats, leg extensions, hamstring curls in the gym about once a week.

I am no gym bunny but AFAIK leg extensions very bad for knees.

From men's health " 6 exercise machines you should do without":

 

The Seated Leg Extension

The myth: It’s the safest way to work your quadriceps, or thigh muscles.

The truth: Physiologists at the Mayo Clinic determined that leg extensions place significantly more stress on your knees than squats. Why? Because the resistance is placed near your ankles, which leads to high amounts of torque being applied to your knee joint every time you lower the weight. What’s more, Auburn University scientists found that people who squat long-term have tighter, stronger knee ligaments than those who don’t squat at all.

The alternatives: Free weight squats, split squats, and lunges—performed with perfect form—are all better choices for working your quads and protecting your knees.

[TALUS]

Sometimes the obvious needs to be stated:

 

What has changed over the last 27years?

 

Did your GP do "skyline views" of the patella? I wont be surprised if you have some retropatellar OA. It is often due to wear and tear coupled with slight maltracking.

 

I am struggling with pain in my left knee for about a year now.
It comes and goes.
I cycle and run. Been cycling for 27 years and running for 19 years.

I had no pain for 3 months leading up to the Karoo to Coast this year.
I was only cycling and did no running at all.
Took a week off after K2C and started running as well again with the cycling.
Pain started again when I started running.

Last week I had enough and went to the doctor.
He took X-rays and saw that nothing was wrong with any bones in the knee area.
He gave me some medication to use for about 10 days and told me I should rest for a week.
Can this pain be because of overtrained muscles and what would you guys suggest I do to better my knee?
I've been using the same running shoes for the last 12 years.

Do you think this is running or cycling related?

[Prince]

front of the knee is usually patella tracking, in other words, your knee cap tracking is out, I have the same trouble and what really works is a really tight elastic knee brace/strap, it just makes movement less..... is the pain sort of on the cap, the tendon just below it, and kinda under the knee cap?

 Yup I agree with this. Try McConnell taping worked for me.

[Grey Hubs]

Just a thought - I think it is difficult to pickup cartilage or Meniscus tears with X-ray.

 

Even after doing MRI scans, it was difficult to determine the exact issue by a specialist.

 

Keyhole surgery found a hole in the cartilage and torn meniscus...now I cycle only

[Karman de Lange]

Front of knee can be caused by a to low a saddle.. 

 

When last did you check your saddle height with you actual foot angle while peddling, not static angle (take video or use bikefit app on IOS)  . My saddle had to go up 30mm from "static" measurement to dynamic.

[Frosty]

I started getting pains around the knee-cap, and wondered if it was due to me riding two different bikes. I discovered that upon changing my saddle, on bike 1, that the vertical point directly above the pedal spindle was out by 14mm (too far back).

On bike 2, I setup the saddle to be in the same position as bike 1, so this was one reason why I was experience some discomfort on both bikes. I did the change around the time I got the second bike.

 

As soon as I put the original saddle back, in the position marked from the original bike setup, then I could index the new saddles correctly on the two bikes.

 

How did I index the various points on the bike?

Below is an example of how to setup multiple bikes, by using a homemade jig. You set the bike up on a trainer, stand or similar so the rear wheel is always in the same position, i.e. the wheel or trainer is against the wall, on a level floor.

 

http://cdn.triathlete-europe.competitor.com/files/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-03-at-10.12.29.png

 

In this case, they're measuring the reach and stack but you can measure so much more. Once you've had a pro bike setup everything should be in the optimal position and now you need to document each point. I've measure the distance from the wall, to:

• Rear axle;
• BB;
• Pedal spindle (in horizontal position - with pedal out front);
• Rear and front tips of saddle;
• Centre point of handlebars;
• Centre points of stem/headset;

as well as from the floor:

• Saddle height;
• BB height;
• Headset height;
• Handle bar height;

Then, distance from:

• saddle tip to centre of headset;
• saddle tip to centre of handlebars;
• tip of saddle to the hoods.

With all this information stored, when it comes to replacing components, I can ensure they are replaced in the exact same position.

 

This is not meant to replace a bike setup, but to ensure (if you have more than one bike, or replace components) that everything is in position.

 

As for my knee problems - what problems?