Knee Trouble - advice on set up please

Anonymous

Meh, your shins will become numb in a while!

billo01

The knees are still an issue but not as bad, some days better than others. Well a lot has happened today, I've been for assessment at the NHS physio and basically I've got some stretching exercises to do for 4 weeks before I go back again. Stretch the hamstrings and the quads and strengthen the muscle above the knee. There isn't any issue with my ITB, no miss-alignment of the knee caps and to keep using the bike as this can only help with the exercise.

The shocker for the day for me is that I also paid a visit to my local dealer to check my bike fit (not the place were I purchased my bike though) After measurements and adjustments as my saddle was too low and too far forward and the shock was under pressurised, cleats were out a bit, I was told that the frame size might be on the small side. My inside leg measured 911 or 36in, I'm 6ft 1in and I'm on a "actual" Trek sized 18.5in frame and the length of seat post exposed is 10in.

So I'm now thinking it's the frame size that's causing my problems. I've ridden my Marin IFT hard tail, which is a 19.5in frame, for many years with no problems and this issue only came about when riding my Trek.

This is of concern for me so I called Trek technical for some peace of mind. Basically they said it sounds border line but it's down to personal preference and what I feel comfortable with. What's the general concensus here, have I cocked up with the frame sizing?

migue xc

Hi I appear, my name is miguel I'm from chile, this is my first post in this forum and hopefully not the last, sorry for the language but I have to help a translator to write well I think that something in this post I can help out kinesiology or physical therapy student, good in the first place position on the bike is important to avoid injury so you'll probably feel pain in your knee is due to an incorrect position on your bike, you might also drag an injury from before or was not on the bike but doing another sport, such as advice I can tell you if they see your problem with a therapist this is going to treat his knee injury but may not improve the position on the bike, then the best option is a physical therapist who has knowledge of bikefittin ...

Well if you can not be happy I hope you can help the distance with some tips but I need to give me some characteristics of the symptoms you have in your knee to know what you're concerned ...

For example, the type of pain, where, if anywhere radiates

Well I hope I helped some friends greetings to all, if you have a little problem with taste ayudare because cycling is my passion and therapy

billo01

Well, I'm back!!

It's taken a good while to get this stage, loads of head scratching and physio with a nice lady therapist to get to the diagnosis, then onto see a specialist last week, an X ray or two later and the suggestion is that my condition is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, so now I've got another date back with the lady physiotherapist.

I guess it will be more exercises and stretches etc till this condition eases, and for how long is anybodies guess. I've not had much time on the bike (2011 EX9 still sat in garage with less than 100 miles on the clock)

Anyone else had experience with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and what was your cure/management for this? Be interested to here your views.

Cheers

mdl

For knee pain, would u recommend speedplay peddles for more options.

Mdl

CharlieH

Had same problem as op for years (sharp pain and burning) and I have seen massive improvement by the following

A. Switching to flats - got some decent flats and 5.10 shoes, massive improvement

B. Take supplements - Glucosomine and fish oils as advised by doctor

C. Leg strengthening work (either gym, turbo trainer etc.) Seems to put less stress through my knees and even things like crouching down is much easier now as the muscles around the knees are strengthened

D. Spinning rather than grinding - I fitted a cheap cadence computer to the HT and practised riding at a higher cadence. This seems to have made a huge difference in how my knees feel straight after a ride

cbee

As someone with a long history of knee problems and can no longer run (it was many years of road running which caused it, I guess!!), but I manage to cycle using flat pedals and the highest seat position possible for my leg length. I am also unable stand in the pedals on hills, so have to spin instead. I have taken glucosamine for years, but have recently stopped after reading that its benefits have now been medically discredited.

mdl

cbee wrote:

As someone with a long history of knee problems and can no longer run (it was many years of road running which caused it, I guess!!), but I manage to cycle using flat pedals and the highest seat position possible for my leg length. I am also unable stand in the pedals on hills, so have to spin instead. I have taken glucosamine for years, but have recently stopped after reading that its benefits have now been medically discredited.

Interesting about the glucosamine

MDL

cbee

mdl wrote:

Interesting about the glucosamine

I only stopped taking glucosamine a couple of weeks ago, so too early to form any opinion on this. With knee problems of an arthritic nature the pain/discomfort tends to vary in intensity, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the specific reason for any apparent improvement or deterioration to medication, diet, weather etc.

billo01

I've also been using glucosamine for several years now on suggestion from my GP, and I must admit the problem I had at the time has more or less gone away (but now this current problem has revealed itself??) and I continue to take it. I also take cod liver oil or omega 3 too. Why has glucosamine been discredited, where did you read this?