Cyclist's Knee
Original Editor - Your name will be added here if you created the original content for this page.
Lead Editors
Cyclist's Knee - Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
Most cyclists experience some knee pain over the cause in their riding career. A systematic review and various studies studies report the incidence of knee pain ranging from from 36% to 62%[1] [2]and it is the second most reported overuse injury for cyclists[3] (after Cyclist's Back).
The knee ( see the link for comprehensive detail of the knee) sits between the upper and lower leg. . If any part of the lower kinematic chain ( core, lumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle) gets a problem it can pull on the knee joint changing the way the knee functions and cause knee pain. Due to the repetitive motion of the knee in cycling overuse injuries can occur when these incorrect tensions/torsions are applied to the knee.
The knee joint is a complicated joint with various compartments that can be affected
Lateral and medial knee pain
Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]
Four Main Reasons for Knee Pain on the Bike
- Incorrect cleat alignment
- Incorrect saddle position
- Incorrect cadence
- Poor flexibility and or strength of the core, pelvis and or flexors or extensors of lower limb kinetic chain[4]
Three Main Regions of Knee Pain
- Anterior Knee Pain. Caused by increased pressure on the patella and surrounding soft tissues or incorrect tracking of the patella. This can arise from: saddle too low or positioned too far forward; tight hip or knee flexors casing patella to compress at at patella femoral joint; slow cadence putting much great force through knee; cleats causing tibial torsion resulting in incorrect patella tracking.
- Posterior Knee Pain. Caused by increased forces applied to posterior knee joint and surrounding soft tissues. This can arise through: saddle too high or to far aft; tight calf, hamstrings or gluteals; cleats positions, foot too far forward on pedal.
- Lateral or Medial Knee Pain. Caused by incorrect pressure applied through lateral or medial knee structures[5] A 2018 systematic review reported that an increased medial projection of their knees causes an altered activation of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles and was a potential cause of cyclists knee pain[5].This can arise through: incorrect cleat alignment, toe pointing medial causing lateral stress, toe points lateral causing medial stress; tight medial or lateral structures eg TFL or thigh adductors; insufficient core or pelvic muscle power to stabilise pelvis for lower limb kinetic chain to function efficiently from.[4]
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
add text here relating to the clinical presentation of the condition
Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]
add text here relating to diagnostic tests for the condition
Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]
add links to outcome measures here (see Outcome Measures Database)
Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]
add text here relating to management approaches to the condition
Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
add text here relating to the differential diagnosis of this condition
Resources[edit | edit source]
add appropriate resources here
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Bini R, Hume PA, Croft JL. Effects of bicycle saddle height on knee injury risk and cycling performance. Sports medicine. 2011 Jun 1;41(6):463-76. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21615188 ( last accessed 28.8.2019)
- ↑ Johnston TE, Baskins TA, Koppel RV, Oliver SA, Stieber DJ, Hoglund LT. The influence of extrinsic factors on knee biomechanics during cycling: a systematic review of the literature. International journal of sports physical therapy. 2017 Dec;12(7):1023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5717478/ (accessed 28.8.2019)
- ↑ Clarsen, Benjamin & Krosshaug, Tron & Bahr, Roald. (2010). Overuse Injuries in Professional Road Cyclists. The American journal of sports medicine. 38. 2494-501. 10.1177/0363546510376816. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46288399_Overuse_Injuries_in_Professional_Road_Cyclists (last accessed 29.8.2019)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 SickBiker Bike Fitting - 4 Main Knee Pain Syndromes Of Cyclists. Saddle / cleats position... Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk0zaFyJXbg&app=desktop (last accessed 29.8.2019)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bini RR, Bini AF. Potential factors associated with knee pain in cyclists: a systematic review. Open access journal of sports medicine. 2018;9:99. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5973630/ (last accessed 29.8.2019)
