For many cycling enthusiasts, knee pain is something that they normally experience. This pain is caused by iliotibial tissue, and in curative jargon is normally referred to as It band syndrome. This tissue is thick and fibrous, and runs between the hip and the knee. Because of the constant up and down movement of the legs in cycling, it starts to get stretched. Soon the stretched tissue starts to rub against the bony areas of the hip or knees - and that's when the pain starts.
Quite often beginners are more likely to suffer from this type of pain. That's because they get over excited and ride for hours without paying concentration to their knees or feet. There are some other inherent causes too, including wrong sitting position, faulty saddle, cleat alignment, hard riding, and personel body anatomy. There's not much you can do to sacrifice the pain apart from cycle more slowly. Doing this gives the body a opening to get used to the corporal stress caused by cycling. Stretching exercises and minimal hard riding can also help lessen the pain.
Mountain Bike
It's a good idea to check the adjustment of your seat. When it's exactly right, there's a lot less pressure on the knees. Pain tends to institute behind the knee if the seat is too high, and in the patella if the seat is too low. Ask the salesperson at the cycle store to help fix the seat at the spoton height when you're purchasing your bicycle.
The cleats are an additional one component that need to be checked. Their position needs to be neutral, so that they don't float too much internally or externally. A bike shop can check the shoe position using the 'fit kit' method.
Another type of knee pain sometimes experienced during cycling is chondromalacia. This occurs because the cartilage behind the patella is subjected to constant pressure during cycling. Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps muscle, which runs along the front of the thigh, can help sacrifice this discomfort. You can sit on a chair to stretch the leg. Try to keep your legs right while pedaling and avoid sideward movement.
Sometimes just resting the knee or applying ice packs can sacrifice the pain. It's also sensible to sacrifice your cycling time until the pain in your knee or hip subsides. Avoid riding at high speeds and along bumpy roads for a while, even after the pain has gone. It can also be helpful to do some mild stretching exercises and ice the knee both before and after your ride, to help keep the muscles loose. Make sure you keep your legs warm if it's cold, too.
If you find that the pain keeps occurring, it's leading that you visit your physician or sports clinic for an spoton determination of the cause of the pain and suitable treatment.
Tips On Avoiding Knee Pain When Cycling