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Bad Knees


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How many of you are cycling with (or because of) bad knees. I've had a number of injuries (mostly rugby) and have had 2 left knee and 4 right knee operations so far. Dr advised cycling and I started MTB two years ago. Didn't know how much fun I was missing out on! Not sure if the knees are better or worse. Staying on the bike seems to help but the crashes not so much....why the hell do you always fall on the already injured bits?!

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i guess i'm one of them who had a busted knee and needed some sorta activity that took a load off it. Had the knee repaired, and recovery was complicated, and very long (over a year, work being the greatest delay to a speedier recovery). Anyway, since the previously neglected muscles that caused the knee to fail, have been made stronger, i'm good to go in all departments. Losing weight thanks to riding definitely helped a lot, if not the most.

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I'm with you, my problems started with rugby, after that 11 years of racing off road bikes and 4 years of skydiving took its toll. Now I'm sitting with 2 buggered knees and messed up shoulders.

Had 3 ops on my right knee and one op on my right shoulder to fix a recurring dislocation (have dislocated it again after the op :( ). Last year at the Roof I tore the ACL in my left knee, havent fixed that yet but will probably go for that op in sept.

 

Cycling has help keep me fit as its kind on my joints. Started doing crossfit a few months ago which has helped allot with strengthening my legs and shoulders.

 

For some reason I was blessed with strong bones but weak ligaments, havent broken any bones yet and I should have a few times.

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Cycling, although non-loadbearing and better for knees than rugby, running and other loadbearing activities does have it's cautions. But be carefull of the hips as the small muscles in the hips drive alignment and things like wrong setup and not stretching can later harm you and cause strain on the knees again due to the body alignment being thrown out.

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What sort of exercises do you do zeepee? Weight bearing exercises are out of the question for me and i haven't had much success in strenghtening all the leg muscles even though I followed a biokineticist' program. Cycling definitely helps as do stretches but I think the muscles could be stronger... especially when I climb and i have to concentrate more on keeping the knee stable than cycling.

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Crossfit is allot of weight baring exercises but my knees seem to be fine with it, havent had any problems since I started. In fact, my knees feel much better since I've started doing crossfit.

It's old school training, pull ups, push ups, squats, dead lifts, tire flips, sprints ect.

Checkout http://www.crossfit.com/, I train with the Fight Fit militia http://mmajhb-co-za.win25.wadns.net/

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Got a bad knee and a hip (no operations yet) - after taking up MTBing last year, I've seldom had problems.

 

Took the time to fit my saddle properly and that has really helped.

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I am above 50 years old and struggled with my knees when running more that 1km at a time. Started cycling (and spinning classes) July 2009 and taking it easy and "nursing" my knees. Now my muscles and ligaments have adapted and I can put serious strain on them during uphils with not problems. Cycle on the road.

 

Have read somewhere that cyclists should also include running in their training program because the shocks, relative to the fluent movement of cycling, are actually good to increase one's bone strength. Cyclists tend to have weak bone structures in their legs.

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Have read somewhere that cyclists should also include running in their training program because the shocks, relative to the fluent movement of cycling, are actually good to increase one's bone strength. Cyclists tend to have weak bone structures in their legs.

You can also do weight training (such a squats etc.) to help with bone density issues.

 

If you're riding because of knee issues, make damn sure your setup's good. I've been suffering from persistent knee problems that have been caused by incorrect setup.

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I have suffered with bad knees since school rugby. Problem diagnosis was waning quadriceps i.e. weakened muscle structure towards the knee area. Suffered badly when playing squash. took up cycling and starting to show improvement. An old simple but effective exercise for quads is to lie on you back, straighten leg point toes backwards and do the letters of the alphabet. One leg at a time. You can later progress on to using ankle weights. The idea is not to flex the knee while exercising the quads to do all the work. Pointing toes backwards helps to lift the kneecap off the joint.

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  • 3 weeks later...

My right knees patella got pushed to the right side of the kneecap a few years back when I slipped climbing onto the bakkies tailgate, will not forget that feeling or sound !

Was already riding a bit but riding was recommended to help, did allot of physio to get it stronger. Doesnt bother me know, but walking up stairs it can sound grindy almost.

Been doing some trail running as well, no issues.

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I busted my left knee real bad a few years ago when I stepped in a hole. Thanks to cycling its holding up, but the specialist told me that as soon as I stop cycling they will have to operate.

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