The extreme amounts of stress that can be put on the knee joint while cycling may lead to anterior lateral knee pain. Symptoms of anterior lateral knee pain include a dull aching pain that is felt below or behind the knee cap and radiates out away from the center of the knee. Referred to as "runner's knee," the term is used to describe a number of conditions that can cause pain around the front of the knee.
Function
The patella, or knee cap as it is commonly referred to, sits over the front of the knee joint. As you bend and straighten your knee during cycling, the underside of the knee cap glides over the bones that make up the knee joint. The quadriceps tendon secures the knee cap to the quadriceps muscle, and at the bottom of the knee the patellar tendon attaches the tendon to the shin bone.
Causes
Pain in your knee from cycling may be the result of several conditions that can affect either the knee cap or the tendons of the knee. Chondromalacia patella is a wearing away of the cartilage on the underside of the patella that can occur as the knee cap slides along the groove in the femur. Tendinitis is an irritation of the tendons that may be caused by overuse of the knee or a muscular imbalance between the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles.
Treatment
Following an incidence of anterior lateral knee pain from cycling, abstain from any activities that aggravate the condition. Apply ice or cold packs to the knee several times a day. Use an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to help combat swelling in the knee joint. Using a compression bandage may help to alleviate some knee discomfort.
Prevention
A simple seat adjustment may ease the forces placed on the knee and help to prevent anterior lateral knee pain. To find the proper saddle height, drop one pedal to the 6 o'clock position and sit on the bike with your foot placed on this pedal. There should be a 25- to 30-degree angle bend in your knee. If your hips rock while you are riding, lower your seat until you achieve a smooth pedal stroke.
