A knee "mechanics" question

[Wahine]

This sounds like patellar or patellar tendon pain based on where it occurs in the pedal stroke. Keep stretching your glutes and double check your alignment with your squats with PT. Yes to bringing the bike in to the PT to see what they think.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks ladies, I appreciate your help!

I'll make an appt with the physio. I'll have to ask the dude i saw (musculoskeletal physio) if his physio friend (who's the physio for the UK track cycling team & set my bike up) might be the best person to see.

I don't want to feel like a dork..

[crazycanuck]

I visited my physio dude yesterday evening & a couple of items came up.

First item is my right side is out of whack, esp my right hip. I obviously just started to move in a different way and didn't realize it. I don't think it was becuase walking etc was painful but rather it was easier to move?

Second-regarding the knee pain @ the front-I was asked if it was more pain or strength that was holding me back from pushing down from a bent knee. It's mainly painful to even try. He got me on the stationery bike & i managed to get my leg down & around once but it took all my strength!

He taped my knee & told me to see if it helps. If it does then he'll show me how to tape it up myself before a ride. In addition, i need to get my glute & hammies working. Some of the exercises i've been doing i can move to the wayside as the quads are super strong now.

The last thing is if all this doesn't work he mentioned they can give a cortisone shot but i'd rather not.

What's the guidline again about if it hurts, try & do it. If it hurts afterwards, don't do it type thingie..

Wahine-I stopped going to Acupuncture in early Jan, would it be beneficial to return?

THanks for your help.

[KnottedYet]

If it hurts more than a few minutes (max 30) after you do it, not so good.

[Wahine]

This is a very structural/alignment issue. You need to be working on those things first and foremost, that means PT exercises and pilates, but be aware that pilates does not work your glute max so it doesn't replace the PT exercises. Acupuncture may help manage the pain but isn't going to get you better much faster with this problem.

I'm going to try to find the link for guidelines I gave once for pain with activity. But in the meantime you should know that any sharp debilitating pain like you're describing is not good. Aching is a different story.

TBC...

[crazycanuck]

Thanks ladies!

I tried one get out of the saddle move & the pain in front of the knee isn't there today because my knee's taped. I'll just work on getting stronger in the saddle I think making cycling a struggle right now isn't what i have in mind..

THe folks @ the pilates studio have me doing glute exercises & they're almost exactly the same as the ones the physio gave me.

TBC indeed. I will keep an eye on things..

[rocknrollgirl]

I remember you posted this for me, I found it in the PT thread.


I'm going to post my guidelines here on the achy factor. I hope it doesn't just confuse people more.

General rule of thumb (there are always exceptions, especially if part of the treatment includes breaking up scar tissue):

Sharp pain is bad and activities that cause sharp pain during the activity should be avoided until discussed further with the PT

Muscle aching is OK and even good. I think most of you understand this.

A little aching in an injured joint, tendon, ligament is OK as long as it subsides within 2 hours of the activity and does not cause a change in function eg limping. If it lasts longer that 2 hours or causes a change in function, it may still be a good activity but requires some tweaking (time, intensity, positioning...)

Intense aching that last longer than a day is an indicator of an activity that you're not ready for and needs to be adjusted.

No aching in the injured tissue at all during an activity followed by aching later that day or the next day, typically means that the achig is coming from increased stress on the area from muscle imblances that are working against you either during the activity or as they tighten up afterward. That means closer attention to stretching, self myofascial release, yoga.

Phew. Hope that helps and doesn't confuse.
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