Knee problem

[Bron]

Well, I hope nobody minds me starting a new thread on this one. I've done a search but can't seem to find an answer.
Can anyone throw any light on my knee problem? I get this feeling as though something is gradually tightening up round the knee; after a few revolutions it then "clicks" and feels normal again. This then repeats itself. It's not painful, just uncomfortable, only happens when I am on my bike and sometimes stops after about 20km. I warm up into my rides using a low gear and my pedals have plenty of float (look with the red cleats).
Am I missing some obvious thing that could cause this?

Basically, although it doesn't hurt, I don't want to wait until I have wrecked my knee.

Thanks, Bron

[KnottedYet]

Sounds like the retinaculum that wraps around the knee. The Ilio-tibial band feeds fibers into that retinaculum, as do most of the muscles in the thigh. It can get tight just like any other structure in the body, and that tension can change as the muscles in the area and the fascial elements from the muscles that feed into it are doing work. Bits and pieces of the knee can get pulled a little out of place and "pop".

If it hurts: go to a doc and get a referral to a sports PT

If it doesn't hurt: look for a book on stretching for cyclists, or a good general stretching book (Jon Anderson's "Stretching" is a classic). Find an IT Band stretch that works for you. Add to that stretches for hamstrings, quads, calves, and hip adductors (the ol' "butterfly" stretch works great). Do a buttocks stretch, too. (knee to chest, knee to opposite side of chest) Stretch a couple times a day.

If that doesn't help things in a week or two, go to the doc and get a referral to a sports PT.

If your kneecap is being pulled out of alignment by something or one of your meniscuses is getting yanked by something, you really do want to get that taken care of. They can show you specific stretches for the muscle groups and for the retinaculum itself, and teach you to strengthen whatever might be weak. (usually in women it's the vastus medialis obliquus)

[Bron]

Thanks!
I had to get my husbands old anatomy textbooks out, but now I know what all of the bits round the knee are called. That's exactly the place where it's bothering me. As I said it's not painful, but a bit uncomfortable, so I'll make sure to be more rigorous with stretching (hmm, I did pilates all last year and didn't have this problem, maybe time to start again).
I'm also looking for a sports doctor who knows about cycling and won't run for a scalpel when I tell him my knee is bothering me.

Thank you,
Bron