If you love cycling and do so often, you may find yourself with a painful dilemma in the form of anterior knee pain. Anterior knee pain is a generic term which encompasses any pain or injury in the anterior part of the knee. For anterior pain from cycling, there are several things to take into consideration.
Possible Cause
Anterior knee pain can be the result of an injury if you bumped into something during the course of your bike ride. The pain may also be the result of overuse resulting in strain. Seat adjustment, such as having the seat too low or too close to the handlebars, can also result in anterior knee pain.
When the Pain Hits
As soon as you feel the pain, whether it is the first time or recurring, stop what you are doing immediately. Sit down and prop your leg up so that it is elevated and call your doctor. Your doctor may advise you to come in so that he can determine the cause of the pain and what needs to be done about it. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully so as not to cause further damage to your knee.
Knee Exercises for Strengthening
Your doctor can advise you if doing strengthening exercises is safe to perform based on your unique situation. If the doctor gives his approval, then you may commence, but stop if you experience pain. Warm up your muscles before stretching by taking a short walk. Stand straight and pull your foot back so that you can feel it in your thigh muscles. Use your knee to push back and down and hold it for 30 seconds. Also try lying on your back and holding your injured knee up and at a 90-degree angle. Use the hand on the opposite side of the body to pull your knee gently to the opposite side of the body and hold it for 30 seconds. Do three to five repetitions of each a few times daily.
Ongoing Care and Caution
If cycling continues to cause pain, avoid it until you can do so pain free; don't force it. If you wish to continue to get some exercise, work around it by focusing on upper body exercises and low-impact workouts such as swimming, skating and cross country skiing. Stop if these activities cause pain. Avoid wrapping your knee unless your doctor advises you to do so. Don't squat, kneel or cause your knee any undue stress. Apply ice to your knee for 20 minutes three times per day to help with pain and swelling.
