Lower Leg Injury - HELP I need a solution
Chezz
Posts: 5
Not sure if I've written this is the right Forum but here goes. I've had an injury since a Sportive in June 2010 at the very top of my right calve where it attaches to the bone (I think). I've had a physio look at it and he found alot of tightness along the outside of the right leg and suspects a tear in the tendon at the very top on the outside. He's not a cycling expert and suggested cleats were a bad idea and I should bin them or at least adjust them. I have Look Keo's with 9 degree cleats and have adjusted but the injury returns when I do hilly courses. 10 mile Time trials are fine (flat course). I do remember that I had the same problem last summer but to a much lesser degree and I wasn't riding as much then, wasn't doing as many hills, had a differnet bike, shoes and cleats. The pain is particular on the up stroke as my heel starts to rise. I even notice it when seated at work and put my feet backwards to stand Before the physio I had 3 weeks off the bike then the physio that I mentioned along with 2 sports massages,whilst on holiday - then rode 2 time trials followed by my hilly course and it was fine, but when I rode the same course 7 days later and the problem returned. I asked my cycle buddy to follow me and he noticed that my right knee moves out board on the up stroke and then back into the normal plane on the down stroke. My left leg is normal. This is getting me down as I'd planned to do more sportives this year but don't think my leg will last so have avoided any more. When it's bad it takes your breath away and I've had to stop pedelling instantly. HELP!
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I should have also added that perhaps I need a physio with bike knowledge and or a quality bike fitter. Can anyone recommend either in the North East of England please?0
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Not a medical person but heel/upstroke/wandering knee involvement suggests either hamsstring (rear of thigh) or even gluteus (bum muscle). Fixing point for calf muscle may also be inflamed. taken together and being only one sided I would guess there is an imblance in your bodyand/or how you sit on the bike.
Can't remeber exactly but I think sitting too high/too far back might cause these problems (hope someone corrects this if its wrong)
Your foot position could also be too close to the bike - you could try moving cleat so foot comes away from bike a bit.
Otherwise I would suggest you spend time (&money) finding a sports physio, check leg length and bike fit. If you can compare with the bike/set up you had last year - if it gave you less discomfort there may be a few clues there too.
Whatever you do dont carry on riding so it gets more inflamed /painful. If it is ok on the flat /gently then do that but avoid irritating things till you get a diagnosis
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Find a competent sports physio, go by recommendation rather than anything else, university sports team usually know where the good ones are.
Then get a decent bike fit done.0
