I have now been cycling and running for about 9 months and since getting my road bike in Dec, I have slowly noticed, starting in Jan that I get pain from a tendon on my right leg right behind my knee. It is the tendon that is easy to feel when your leg is partially bent. I have been dealing with this by stretching and ice and ibruprofen but this past weekend on a fairly high effort 37 miles with some small hills, it started hurting worse than ever. So much so that I had to concentrate on putting more effort in with my left leg to compensate.
Then, on Monday, I started to noticed a similar pain but more toward the middle of the back of my knee on my left leg.
So now, both legs are hurting. The pain only occurs while riding (not running) and the more I push, the more pain.
Could this be position? I did get fitted on the bike but maybe I need to adjust a little???
I could take a picture tonight of my position if that will help.
Thanks
The picture below shows where the pain is by the red line.
Your saddle height, flexability, cleat position amongst other things could cause tendon pain.
I’d recommend seeing a sports physio and/or masseur for a check too.
I managed to rip said tendon and was off the bike for 6 months. I still have to be careful 5 years later, as I get twinges every now and then.
The fact my masseur is a pretty blonde is irrelevant
I have now been cycling and running for about 9 months and since getting my road bike in Dec, I have slowly noticed, starting in Jan that I get pain from a tendon on my right leg right behind my knee. It is the tendon that is easy to feel when your leg is partially bent. I have been dealing with this by stretching and ice and ibruprofen but this past weekend on a fairly high effort 37 miles with some small hills, it started hurting worse than ever. So much so that I had to concentrate on putting more effort in with my left leg to compensate.
Then, on Monday, I started to noticed a similar pain but more toward the middle of the back of my knee on my left leg.
So now, both legs are hurting. The pain only occurs while riding (not running) and the more I push, the more pain.
Could this be position? I did get fitted on the bike but maybe I need to adjust a little???
I could take a picture tonight of my position if that will help.
Thanks
The picture below shows where the pain is by the red line.
Ok the left line, the way you have it placed looks like one of the cruciate ligaments. The right leg shows more the anchoring tendon that you can feel.
My first guess would be cleat position. I have feet that naturally point outwards, (Not duck footed, but close), and if I adjust my cleats so that my feet have to point straight, I get the same pains. I have to adjust them so I’m barely not clocking my ankles on the crank arms for cycling to feel comfortable.
This is fascinating. I’ve been having knee pain in the same areas. I don’t run, so I assume it’s bike related (though I only really have the pain when walking, not when riding). It came on when I got some new shoes. Maybe I didn’t get the cleat position quite right. Maybe the depth of the sole/cleat was different which effectively changed my saddle height. I went back to my old shoes and the pain lessened. But I’d also been experimenting with the saddle height on my TT bike. I lowered it 1/4 inch a few days ago. The pain which has lasted for a month has, as of this morning, completely disappeared.
I should add that last Wednesday I was just walking along and there was a sudden, sharp POP at the back of my right knee … right where your red line is on the right leg in your diagram. I thought to myself when it happened, “that was either really good or really bad.” A few steps later things felt better and they’ve steadily improved since. Lowering my saddle seemed to be the icing on the cake.
Bottom line, other posters have pointed to cleats and/or saddle height and I’m just chiming in to say I think they’re barking up the right tree.
Well, I moved the seat down 8-10mm and did a 10 mile recovery ride. I immediately noticed the difference in the seat height. I believe there was less “tension” on the pain areas and they are definatley not hurting now (right after the ride). So I think I am going to continue the ice, anti-inflamatories and do only easy rides for the next few weeks and see how it goes. Hopefully that will be enough time for healing.
