Been the Physio About my Knees....

Ssushi

After quite a thorough examination the conclusion is that my knee pain is caused my a misbalance in my leg muscles.

Cycling causes this as we don't fully extend the leg during exercise. Hence not all of the muscle groups get the same work out and the muscles become unbalanced. This in turn causes the knee cap to move (mine is apparently 1 cm lower than normal).

To correct this, I'm having a laser treatment (which is supposed to assist in repairing the damaged cells caused by the muis-alignment and have to start excersing my legs at the final range of motion. i.e. the last few degrees of movement before the the legs are fully extended.

1) 2 weeks - lie on your back, legs straight, raise R leg 6 inches hold for 2 seconds, then down. 10 Reps R, 10 reps L. 3 sets of each.

2) After 2 weeks - 1Kg weights on ancles, leg extensions. 3 sets of 10 on each leg.

Thought that this might help anyone else having knee pains...

Ssushi

jollydog

During the second 2 weeks, are you doing leg extensions in a sitting position, through the full range of motion up to 180 degrees? I would think that would make your pate lla grind even more

Roy Gardiner

I have had incipient knee trouble for 30 years, chronic for 8, and (sadly) know plenty about it.

Most important of all: you must take charge. You are not a 'patient', you decide what's to happen.

The answer you have been given does not sound reasonable to me -- if it were so, every cyclist would have knee trouble, and most don't. I suggest more personal research on the net and elsewhere.

People I have found useful are osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports-masseurs and (in only a very specific area) doctors.

Doctors can trim and clean a damaged knee, but they give up then. Masseurs will tell you if your muscles are incorrectly set, much better than a physio in my experience. An osteopath who understands knees is a gift from heaven (I have twice been changed from barely-able-to-walk to cycling (training!!) the next day). I use an excellent masseur all the time and an osteopath from time to time (when things go wrong), and they keep me going.

Don't let them cut you unless it's *absolutely* necessary.

Take Glucosamine Sulphate; it's cheap and works.

Research stretching exercises to do every day. Hamstring, calves, quads, buttocks, the whole 9 yards. They will help greatly. Some bits (ITB, for example) are hard to stretch yourself, that's why you need a masseur.

Excuse more for ranting, this has been a big deal for me. Pick and choose the advice, of course.

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Roy Gardiner, Hainault Roads Club

Michael E. Carr

I too have had knee problems for years. Early into my return to cycling, I went to a knee specialist wo advised plenty of stretching exercises prior to, during, and after going on rides. this did indeed help, but did not alleviate the pain. I was almost ready to give cycling up----then I tried Glucosamine with Chondroitin. I had to take it for roughly 8 weeks before I felt any difference, but mysteriously the pain went away, and has been ever since. If you have not given this a try, its definately worth a shot. Good Luck

Roy Gardiner

I found the Chrondroitin a useless extra (but that doesn't mean it won't work for you). Yes, it takes a couple of months. Thanks for saying that, I should have mentioned it.

You keep on taking it forever.

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Roy Gardiner, Hainault Roads Club

Ssushi

Glucosamine Sulphate, Chondroitin? What on earth are they for, what do they do?

I've this for ages and noticed a few years ago that rowing cleared up the problem completely. Then I stopped rowing and took up cycling years later... I'm going to comlete the exercises and see what differences it makes...

jollydog
I think the extensions will be at the last range of movement also...

Ssushi

Roy Gardiner

If you talk to a closed-mind orthopeadic surgeon, he will say 'quack medicine'. But alternative practitioners and open-minded doctors say 'it makes you better'. The (unproven but widely held) theory is that (somehow) it helps cartilage restoratoin.

1500mg a day, orally.

My doctor told me about 3 years ago that within 10 years I'd probably be up for knee replacement. I'm still pretty bad, but better than when he told me. So nuts to him - so far. Glucosamine, osteopath, sports massage, no running, as little walking as possible, and lots of cycling have worked for me. I race (I don't win, but I'm bl**dy well not dropped!!).

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Roy Gardiner, Hainault Roads Club

Chester1

As one with long term knee problems I can relate to all of this. I go to a chiropractor regularly, and he's got me on some muck for cartiledge restoration, as mentioned above. I had a look at the ingredients and the gluco whatsit above figures prominently.

Between correct bike set up, stretching, a built up shoe (with washers between cleat and shoe), stretching and the gluco stuff I am much better than previously.

There is some good advice above. I might have to try the massage next..

Jonny

your body turns the glucosamine into chondroiten so its just skipping a step. Derived from shark cartilage. This is supposidly what cartilage is made up of, therefore replacing any cartilage wear.

I had a knee reconstruction 8 months ago and my surgeon said I had chipped of two large pieces of cartilage to the bone and would not heal. This was visable in a video of my operation.
My physio recommended i try glucosamine.

Anyways eight weeks ago i managed to ruin the operation through a bike accident and had another reconstruction (with a video series 2). The surgeon was surprised because the cartilage had totally repaired! Cartillage does not usually grow back especially with the damage i had. U cannot tell there was any damage at all to that area.

This isn't definate proof it works but its worth a try especially if you have nothing to lose

Jonny