So after my bike rides my right knee tends to get tight and bending it (for example lifting my heel up to my butt) results in some discomfort. This lasts for about 10-15min and then subsides with only slight tightness afterwards. The tightness is located in the patellar tendon but it’s not chronic. If I ride indoors on the trainer the tightness is much less pronounced (which I find strange).
My seat height is not too low and I don’t ride super steep so I’m leaning towards muscle imbalance. Someone on ST must have had something similar so am wondering how you got rid of it. Thanks for any help.
I’d start stretching your IT band and see if it helps on the next few rides. If you sit at your desk post-workout with the troubled knee bent instead of straight and it hurts, it definitely could be. I have PT in my left knee and that’s what happens for me.
Good luck…I’d RICE it to make sure it really doesn’t go crazy and really hurt your run.
x2 with IT band stretching and STRENGTH: we have a good thread called “the definitive guide to ITBS” that has good stuff on it.
Callidus - it’s good that this isn’t chronic, let’s try to keep it that way. You obviously have researched this enough to think about saddle height, low being usually the culprit for anterior knee issues. The fact that you don’t seem to be as bothered indoors would make me wonder if the float was different, comparing indoors to out. Indoors, are you clipped in? Toe straps?
I’ve had some success with having folks adopt just a shade of the Joe Friel “midfoot” position by moving the cleats back a little. And, have an independent person verify your foot position on your road bike, just in case.