Is it ITB damage?

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I 'blew out' both knees about 12 months ago training for a 24 hour race. I went a saw various professionals and had work done on them. I was told by one 'prfessional ' that it was ITB damage.

When both kness blew out, I got a sharp electric pain that shot through into my knees.Putting any pressure on them either pushing down on the peddles, or walking down or up stairs caused a lot of discomfort. I am back on the bike now now, but find if I do a hard session, (either on the bike or weights) my knees and the front side of my calf muscle (near the tibia) the next day are very tight and sore.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas about what I can do as it is driving me crrrrrazy!

I 'blew out' both knees about 12 months ago training for a 24 hour race. I went a saw various professionals and had work done on them. I was told by one 'prfessional ' that it was ITB damage.

When both kness blew out, I got a sharp electric pain that shot through into my knees.Putting any pressure on them either pushing down on the peddles, or walking down or up stairs caused a lot of discomfort. I am back on the bike now now, but find if I do a hard session, (either on the bike or weights) my knees and the front side of my calf muscle (near the tibia) the next day are very tight and sore.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas about what I can do as it is driving me crrrrrazy!

I usually have ITB pains when I run and I've never had them on a bike. Bike riding even helps to recover after pain caused by running. I also know that low saddle can cause problems with IT bands. When I lower my seat too much I can "feel" my IT bands after long ride. They get sore and tight.

There is a good picture of an IT band
http://www.running4women.com/uploads/iliotibial_band_diag.jpg

If pain appears on the outside of the knee where the IT band rubs against the knee bones or on the outside of the hip where it attaches to the pelvis then it's the ITB syndrome. I usually have both types of pain (my problem is caused by very rigid muscles and ligaments).

Running sites have some articles on this problem. They all recommend rest, ice and stretching. That's the link where I took the picture: http://www.running4women.com/health.php?article_id=11

1. Bike fit wise you need to make sure your seat is high enough and that your metatarsal heads are over the pedal spindals.
2. Looking at your biomechanics make sure your medial arch has not fallen or is to excessive( look at your shoes for wear patterns). You can also need to make sure you dont have any rotation at the knee when you pedal if so you may need to have someone evaluate you for orthotics and/or wedges.
3. Ok bilateraly knee pain can have other cause at this point and you need to have someone do a work up on you and see what the injury is that should give you a diagnosis. There are many cause of knee pain DJD various forms of inflamatory arthritis, ITB, internal derangement like tear of the PCl,ACL,MCL or minscus in the knee. Not to mention a few forms of tendonitis and myofascial issue. The front or anterior knee pain may be from tibials anterior muscle that usally effects runners but i have seen it on cyclist and it can effect a nerve that runs threw the anterior compartment so you need to be careful with that

So get a good bike fit and see someone that has a backround in sprots injuries