Cycling Knee Injury

This article is written as a general guide to getting through your cycling injury. I am not a qualified doctor, chiropractor or physiotherapist, but I have cycled as elite without contract, and I have experienced the traumatic effect a knee injury can have upon both your cycling and your finances! Basically then, this article will give you a brief guide as to my experiences of what approach is best to be taken in recovering from tendonitis or other problems in the knee.

Cycling in general should not be harmful to your knees, but many times inflammation can be caused by

overtraining or misalignment of the body. If your knee becomes inflamed after a ride, generally you would ice it and take an easy ride the following day. Perhaps your body will correct itself and the problem will fade away. Continuous cycling on an inflamed knee will, however, cause damage to cartilage or tendons. If you have a recurring knee problem I would advise the following steps.

Check that your cycling equipment is set up correctly, especially your position on the bike and the position of your cleats under your cycling shoes. Cleats with float allowance are generally much kinder on the knee, so speak to your cycling club members or cycling shop about your setup.

Once you are sure about your position on the bike, it is best to consult a good physiotherapist to diagnose the injury. Many physiotherapists will allow you to continue training lightly during treatment, this is useful to monitor progress and retain fitness.

A precautionary visit to a chiropractor can save you from months of hassles which may be stemming from a misalignment iin the back. My personal experience is a case in point. The alignment of your back and pelvis will influence your pedalling style, and can lead to inflammation in the knee. The key to success here, in my experience, is to take a holistic approach to recovery. With a good chiropractor monitoring your skeletal well being and a physiotherapist massaging strategic muscles to rectify imbalances, you should be fast on your way to pain free cycling.

If the cartilage in your knee has been damaged it will help to take one of the many natural products which promote joint reparation. To combat inflammation I found the homeopathic approach to be superior, as it promotes your body’s ability to counter the inflammation. Consult your pharmacist for further advice on this product range.

As for training during the recuperation process, it is best to avoid intensity or climbs on your cycling route. Helpful too, although tedious, is indoor cycling on rollers or a turbo-trainer. Here you are able to practice complete control over your exertion and the duration of your ride.

Remember that the sooner you see to the injury, the faster the recuperation period will be.