Pedal Power #1 in a quarterly series
by Jim Stevenson, PT
Do your knees bother you on your bike or after a bike ride? Sometimes pain can be resolved with a simple change in seat height.
The general rule is pain behind the knee is from the seat too high and pain in the front of the knee from a seat too low. When on the bike the optimal knee angle is 25° to 35° of bend or flexion at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Problems: Pain behind the knee could be from multiple structures including the hamstring muscle or tendons, bursae (structures that cushion tendons and muscles), nerves, or cartilage.
Pain in the front of the knee is often from the patello femoral joint. This joint is between the knee cap and the thigh. When the knee is bent more force is placed on this joint. The quadriceps muscle and patellar tendon can also be a source of pain from the front of the knee.
Solutions: Often times adjusting the seat height can solve the problem. If it does not there are other factors that can affect seat height such as body or skeletal variations, flexibility, length of crank arms, fore/aft position of the seat and leg length differences.
If you have pain when biking you may benefit from some changes to your riding position.
MHR offers Bicyclist Evaluations that will address how you fit your bike and the right exercises for you to ride your best. Call or e-mail today if interested!
Happy Riding!!
