Pedals for loose knees

[KnottedYet]

The best person to answer that question might be your PT.

(depends on what structures and instabilities are causing your trouble whether or not you want to lock down the end of the kinetic chain [yer foot] or let it float)

[Flur]

Unfortunately I don't have one. I've had this issue my whole life... If it matters I'm also flat footed.

[F8th637]

Unfortunately I don't have one. I've had this issue my whole life... If it matters I'm also flat footed.

Wow, you have all these knee problems and never saw a PT for it? Do you have an orthopedic doctor at least?

[Flur]

I did see a doc when I was a teenager. I'd gone out for the volleyball team and had a LOT of issues from the jumping. My doc said that I could have surgery to shorten the ligaments, or "it would just go away as I got older and less active". Shows what he knew He did put me into PT, but again I was 16 and now I'm 31, and that was in MI and now I'm in MN. I'm a yogi, where open knees are a virtue - I have no issues sitting in lotus or sitting in hero with my sit bones all the way onto the floor between my heels (and b/c ALL my ligaments and tendons are loose, I pretty much need to be there and lying back before I can feel a stretch in my quads). Yoga has strengthened all the muscles around my knees, but I'm still a bit nervous about what will happen with pedals.

I have no issues with my toe cages. The left one is completely snug on my shoe - I have to wedge my foot in. The right one is a little bit looser as that's the foot I drop when I need to stop. Would 6 degrees of float feel similar to this, or do cages permit a lot more movement than I think?

[kermit]

I considered Speedplay pedals and was talked out of it by my LBS. I was told there is a thing as too much float and the weight of the cleats and lack of support of pedals was a question. I wound up with Look carbon keos, I love them. The great thing is that there are two different cleats with different levels of float. You definitely need at least 4.5 degrees with your knee problem. Go to a good bike shop and talk to them. I think it will be less stress on your knees than the cages. Good luck.

[OakLeaf]

Flur, I third seeing a PT and working with them on cycling-specific questions. Your PCP can refer you. I don't know what advances have been made in PT in the past 15 years, but I suspect a lot. More to the point, the equipment questions that affect cyclists' knee alignment are unique to the sport. So even if your PT was up to the level of 2008 science, if you didn't work on cycling, there's more to be gained there.