[Closed] Pain in both knees!

Sounds like anterior knee pain, I've had similar. There's an article about it in the latest issue of STW. A physio can help. I'm not a Doctor, btw.

Presume you have tried pissing about with your saddle height? I find too low and my knees rapidly ache.

Knees are a common one for problems as you get older, mine are now starting to hurt but not enough to worry me at the moment. My wife used to end up in agony after riding, turns out she'd messed up her knees when younger doing ballet. It will need looking at properly, she ended up with an operation which did improve things.

Yeah ive moved my saddle up down backwards and forwards! I can feel the pain starting after about an hour but it tends to hurt more when im off the bike especially on stairs.

Knees are a common one for problems as you get older

I'm 44 so I guess I should expect a few aches and pains but this is weird as its both knees in the same place, so I'm hoping my set up needs altering a certain way.I did have my saddle a bit higher today so its possibly linked with that.

Pain on the outside of each knee and the first response you says it sounds like anterior knee pain - genius.

My guess is that your knees were freezing and they're now letting you know about it. Leg warmers or covered legs might help.

I am medically qualified- had a mate who is also a Dr who had the same issue after being set up by a bike shop in terms of his riding position, when he took up cycling- symptoms were exactly the same, developed on bike, ached for ages after, lateral (outside) aspect of both knees, and took at least a week to settle down each time.
I put his seat up, and moved saddle position slightly, meaning his legs went up and down in a straight line and not pushing outwards at the top of the pedal stroke, which essentially caused his ankles to supinate in compensation and stretch the lateral ligaments of his knee. Without looking at your position I cant diagnose or say for sure its the same issue but trying it is certainly free of charge!!

I had cycling long pants on so my knees were nice and warm, ive actually changed bikes and the pain is now actually worse. I have my saddle slightly forward if that means anything.
Paris my problem sounds like your explanation but im not sure how to check if my knees are in line?

I had a similar problem last year every time I went out on the HT, and the stairs were a killer for days following every ride. My pain was more at the back of the knee though.

I Googled it and everyone came back with 'seat too high'. So I lowered the seat by an inch and never got the pain again. It's definatly to do with your seat position.

Since I sorted my knee pain I've been able to get out a lot more on both bikes but I now seemed to have developed a shocking pain in the arse who won't stop moaning about how much I'm out and all the 'jobs that need doing round the house'. Apparently washing bike cloths in the bloody washing machine now breaks washing machines !!! 🙁

I was always told to check knee alignment drop a line from the front of the knee to the pedal axle at the 3 o'clock position with the ball of your foot on the axle (ish). I thought one of the benefits of flats were that your feet naturally found the right place?

Pain on the outside of each knee and the first response you says it sounds like anterior knee pain - genius.

Sorry for trying to help, asshole.

My guess is that your knees were freezing and they're now letting you know about it. Leg warmers or covered legs might help.

Wow. Genius at work compared to my post, obviously.

Nice one excitable, made me laugh, not so much the wife as when I read it out she thought I'd typed it 😀 I hope your right about the saddle, I'll try on my next outing.

Robbo cheers I will get the string out.

Raindog, your right the quotes fron SBZ were out of order.

Thanks for all your replies

I had exactly the pain you are describing the last two times I went out cycling. Only in my right leg though.
I have moved my saddle forward as it seems it was a little far back on my new bike. Haven't been out a ride since though to test, but I am going to go to a physio this week just so that someone can have a look at my knee/leg as I don't want to do permanent damage.

could I humbly suggest seeing first a physio and then a qualified bike fitter?

That will definitely sort out the problem and probably tell you why they are wonky in th efirst place.

This i what you want to do, it is the magic bullet!

Do the second exercise, where he has the one leg, in front of him, and he bends over towards it.
It will stretch your big mucsles from the upper leg, it will hurt a bit, but thats a sign, you are doing it right!
do it 2-3 x times a day, for 2 min.

A few quick questions

if your trying to improve your fitness, by how mutch did you increase you ride distance and time?

do you regularly stretch after rides?

Do check your saddle position too low can lead to knee pain but that tend to be under the kneecap, irritation of the tendon connected the kneecap to the lower leg. Too high tends to lead to hip and lower back problems as you get too much hip rotation.

try to set up the saddle so when the pedal is at 3 o clock the lower leg is vertical

If you have had a large increase in time and distance this could make maters much worse. try a 10-15% increase at max

try to stretch the outside of your leg goggle it band this if too tight can cause problems

Best option see a sports massage therapist or osteopath an d get a professional opinion. then if no inprovement try a bike fitter.

Hope this helps and best of luck

Jay

Cheers all for the advice, my knees still hurt!!

Jeb - cheers for the link I'll give the execises a go when my knees calm down.

Jay, cheers mate I think I did push it today probably 50% further than normal plus I've not had a real ride for about 9 weeks but I did spin lighter gears and the pain didn't start until the very end of the ride.

Olie - bike fitter might be my next option if the rest dont work.

Weirdnumber - good luck.

Thanks again

Armo

So I went to the physio this morning as I have the same pain as described by the OP but only in my right knee. After lots of prodding, pulling and twisting she declared that my iliotibial band is very tight which was what was causing the pain.
Some of the twisting that she did made it very noticeable how much tighter it was than my left leg. I have been banned from cycling for a week and given some stretches to do every day.
Hopefully all will be well soon.

It's saddle position I nearly crippled myself on a ride to Whitstable a from Hackney a few years ago.

My saddle was about 1 inch too high and my legs were at full extension. I couldn't complete the ride and had to hobble to the train statation.

I am no medic but I also have the same/similar problem.

Please ignore the 'It's definitely the ...' It could be a load of things.

My issue is the same as weirdnumber's - the iliotibial band.
I now have to do stretches morning & night for the rest of my life (I reckon) and wear molded insoles in my every day shoes.

The Doc said rest, that was great till I did the activity again. Sent me to physio who after n months said it was not a physio solution and referred me to orthotics guy who spotted the issue immediately.

As well as checking the bike fit, push for a referral to physio or orthotics. Just resting really does not work unless you have the flu.

Hi,

Glad to see its not just me suffering (not that I want you lot to suffer) Knee feels back to normal now but not tested it on the bike yet, I might cycle to work on friday which is 14 mile each way (just hope I can make it home). I've looked on youtube at the IT band streches which hurt like crazy but seem to be freeing the tightness in both knees, so fingers crossed. Hope everybody gets well soon and I'll update on progress Cheers Armo

i confess i haven'te read all the posts above.

but...

i get painfull knees if i push big gears sitting down.

sound familiar?

stretches should NEVER hurt.

Hi armo,
The ITB stretches are almost certainly a good idea. However , it is notoriously difficult (probably impossible)to improve their length at all. Have a go, but also consider a foam roller. Using one of these will help to improve the mobility of the ITB. ie. it will help it to be less constricted and therefore be more mobile. This may help with tightness of the ligaments that join the ITB to the Patella (lateral retinaculum).

SBZ is quite right really though- you described pain on the "outside of each knee". That is lateral knee pain. Anterior knee pain would refer to the front of the knee.

Whilst we're at it: posterior=behind, medial=towards the middle of the body (so inside of knee), superior/inferior=above/below, etc.

I was just speaking from my personal experience which due to over extension. I had a burning sensation on the oustside of each knee, which came on after a few hours in the saddle. It went the day after but came back on the next big ride, so I dropped the saddle a bit and it's been good every since.

Your problem could be a myriad of things but it's a process of elimination.

+1 for the stanley's roller.

you can DIY one with a an old foam camping mat

Abit pissed but rode to work and back (30 mile round trip) and knees feel ok I think main reason is lowered the saddle and didnt push a big gear. Need to go to bed now as feel funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its back!
Big pain today in my right knee, cycled in (15 miles) with lowered saddle and I've got to cycle back with the injury. Whats my best option?

Have you just started the commute? Could it be that you're pushing a slightly higher cadence than normal?

The only time I've ended up with outside knee pain is when I bailed out of an off-road route and upped my cadence moderately hard for about 10 miles on tarmac instead.

Having said it, now you've got the injury, tinkering with the saddle etc isn't going to reveal anything new because you'll trigger it more easily anyhow. I'd say bin or seriously cut down the 30 miles a day for the moment and see the physio again to try to settle it down with stretches and massage.

Hi Martin,

Thanks for the reply, yes commuting is new to me I did it last week (twice) with no real issues but this week nothing but pain! I think my cadence was higher as I beat my travel time by around 5 mins and the temp of -1 might not of helped.

Armo, dont you think it is time to spend some cash and go and see a physio. You can guess, double guess and still not fix the problem.

I spent a year thinking i had a massive problem with a self-diagnosed torn ligament when in actual fact it was something completely different that a physio diagnosed in 5 minutes. And touch wood a year down the line no problems.