A knee "mechanics" question

[crazycanuck]

Hey,

Since i've been back on my bike, i've attempted to jump out of the saddle to go uphill but I am unable to move my leg down a bit from a bent position. I thought it might just be my road bike but I did an easy peasy mtn bike ride today & it's the same on that one.. (pcl ligament strikes back) All it does is cause pain if i even attempt it..

I've had enough..I do tons of different leg strengthening exercises (one legged squats, squats with my knees pointed out & my heels together, the reformer @ the pilates studio & the list goes on..) but the movement I want for going uphill isn't there and don't want to hear that it'll take another 4months.. It's already been 5 1/2 months!!! I have other things to do..

Can someone point me in the direction of a knee mechanics site? Is there a small knee movement i need to understand? What about hamstring mechanics?

Hewppp!!! I'm going to explode into maple leafs soon..

[rocknrollgirl]

CC, hopefully one of the PT's will be on soon and can help, until then, I will grrrrhhhhh right along with you. Poor design on that joint, whomever did the designing!

[crazycanuck]

Thanks RNRG..I think we need to go back to the drawing board in terms of legs..

[KnottedYet]

I'm wondering if you have some goobery-bit inside the knee joint that hasn't resorbed or dissolved or remodelled or something yet.

Sounds like you have all kinds of strength from all those one-legged squats and stuff, but it's the extension range that disappears after repeated limited range flex/ext of pedalling?

Do you want to try an experiment?

Take a "snapshot" of your knee: how it feels, how easily it bends and straightens, how it is to walk.

Then bend your knee by hugging it to your chest 10 times. (hands around your shin, hug) (like a gluteus stretch)

Do another "snapshot." Is the knee better, worse, or the same?

Then sit on the edge of a chair, put your heel on the ground, and push the knee straight with your hands on the lower thigh 10 times. (like a hamstring stretch)

Do another "snapshot." Is the knee better, worse, or the same?

[Starfish]

VERY curious to hear about this...

[Wahine]

I like Knott's idea. But I have a few other thoughts as well.

Where exactly in the pedal stroke are you feeling the pain? Example: starts at around 1 o'clock and lasts to 10. Since we're talking about your left leg your pedal rotation will be counter-clockwise (12, 11, 10....)

Are you able to keep your knee cap aligned over the second toe when you do your 1 legged squats and heel together squats? Can you use a plumb bob to check?