Knee pain after cycling usually occurs in the spring during early riding season, according to RoadCycling.com. Don't let knee pain end your cycling season early. The problem is usually easily fixed with bike adjustments and doing home treatment on your knee before riding again.
Causes
There are several causes of knee pain after cycling. The most common cause is improper positioning of the bike's seat, saddle or pedal alignment. Your anatomy can also cause knee pain after cycling if one leg is longer than the other, which makes it impossible to line the positioning of the bike appropriately for both sides of your body. About 50 percent of the population has a leg length discrepancy, according to TenerifeTraining.net. If less experienced riders are pushing too large of a gear on the bike, this could result in knee pain because pressure is on the patella and lateral part of the knee, according to Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
Identification
Your bike seat should be 5 to 10 degrees of flexion when the crank is in a downward position, according to Gatorade Sports Science Institute. If you allow one pedal to drop to a six o'clock position, the angle of the flexion in your knee joint should be 25 to 30 degrees, according to RoadCycling.com. If your seat is too low the pain after cycling may be in front of your knee, but if the seat is too high, the pain will likely be behind your knee. Your knees should go straight up and down while pedaling. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for knee pain after cycling.
Treatment
In most cases, self-care will be sufficient in treating your knee pain after cycling. RICE is most commonly used for knee pain and involves rest, ice, compression and elevation of the knee. Treat the injury by not cycling for 48 to 72 hours. Taking an over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also minimize the pain you experience. Before resuming cycling, make the necessary adjustments to your bike to avoid future knee problems. A shim can be installed under the cleat of your shorter leg to prevent future pain associated with leg length discrepancies, according to TenerifeTraining.net.
Considerations
If your knee pain has not subsided after 72 hours or has gotten worse, contact your doctor. There may be an underlying medical problem causing your knee pain. A doctor can perform an X-ray, MRI or CT scan to help diagnose the problem so appropriate treatment can be administered. A professional deep massage may also help alleviate pain after cycling.
