Does cycling hurt your knees? ...

Support | Event Directors & Organizers

Search Cool Running Community

Browse Cool Running

CoolRunning.com > Cool Running Community > Multisport Training >

Up to Threads in Multisport Training

12 Replies Last post: Sep 22, 2007 6:32 PM by callalily

callalily

40 posts since
Sep 30, 2007

Sep 4, 2007 10:39 AM

Does cycling hurt your knees?

I'm a novice runner training for my first HM. Just before I went on my HM training program, I overdid everything and injured my knee. I believe it is ITB. I took two weeks off, went on a relatively low mileage novice training program that ramped up slowly (John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals"), wear a knee brace, do stretching & strengthening exercises, and use a foam roller regularly. So far, my knee hasn't been reinjured and I'm knocking on wood as the training program peaks.

I also began cross-training during the HM program by cycling and swimming. I don't do any type of workouts in particular. I just swim for 30-40 minutes and cycle for 40-50 minutes. BTW, I'm using my old 10-speed bike from college.

My husband seems to think that cycling will hurt my knee. This is freaking me out because I want to avoid reinjury. I'm thinking of continuing to cross train over the winter and I'll probably lose access to the pool. Is cycling inadviseable for people with ITB or runner's knee? What steps can I take to minimize the possibility of injury?

Susan
http://sjbmuse.blogspot.com/[/URL" target="_blank">

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

1. Sep 4, 2007 10:44 AM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

Your running kneww injuries may be related to other biomechanical stuff going on with your lower legs, e.g. it may really be due to something like excessive pronation, while a cycling knee injury is usually attributed to direct overuse of the knee joint, improper saddle height on the bike, riding in an overlarge gear and riding in the cold in shorts. The common bike knee injury is pain in the back of the kneecap.

You are far more apt to get hurt running than cycling, but you can hurt your knees on a bike if you put your mind to it.

Doug33

157 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

2. Sep 4, 2007 10:56 AM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jroden:
Your running kneww injuries may be related to other biomechanical stuff going on with your lower legs, e.g. it may really be due to something like excessive pronation, while a cycling knee injury is usually attributed to direct overuse of the knee joint, improper saddle height on the bike, riding in an overlarge gear and riding in the cold in shorts. The common bike knee injury is pain in the back of the kneecap.

You are far more apt to get hurt running than cycling, but you can hurt your knees on a bike if you put your mind to it.<HR>

1

My experience is that cycling helps to strengthen the muscles that interact with the knee. In other words, it helps to balance-out the entire leg.

For me, I went from cycling to running and noticed knee problems. When I put the cycling back into my training, the knee issues disappeared.

When I train for a stand alone half mary, the knee issues start creeping back. When I train for a HIM, there are no knee issues at all. When I add the swimming into the mix, my whole body feels stronger and more toned. Any one discipline, when trained alone, may cause problems.

I would recommend the addition of cycling into your training regime. It is non load bearing, will strengthen the muscles not used as much for running, and will add variety to your week.

------------------
"Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory."
- General George S. Patton

Dad and Boy[/URL" target="_blank">

runnerparris

365 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

3. Sep 4, 2007 12:25 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

I think you need to put the idea that cycling hurts your knees out of your head and don't freak yourself out about it.

I am a runner who bikes and has evolved into tris. I have had way more than my fair share of injuries (ITband included) and I can tell you that cycling is less offending than the running. I have cycled my way through a whole series of running injuries.

Best of luck to you!!!

dragonsrouges

1,068 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

4. Sep 4, 2007 12:34 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Doug33:
1

My experience is that cycling helps to strengthen the muscles that interact with the knee. In other words, it helps to balance-out the entire leg.
<HR>

quote:<HR>
For me, I went from cycling to running and noticed knee problems. When I put the cycling back into my training, the knee issues disappeared.
<HR>

I agree.

quote:<HR>
When I train for a stand alone half mary, the knee issues start creeping back. When I train for a HIM, there are no knee issues at all. When I add the swimming into the mix, my whole body feels stronger and more toned. Any one discipline, when trained alone, may cause problems.
<HR>

Were you putting in as much mileage running when you were training for the HIM as you were for the half-marathon? It's hard to tell if it's the reduction in mileage and/or intensity or if it's the actual cycling. If you kept up the same mileage and intensity but added cycling to your training and your knee issues were reduced, then maybe we could assume that the cycling helped the knee issues. We are talking strictly from a knee injury point of view, not speed.

If you reduce the intensity and mileage of the running and keep fit enough to keep the weight off, then your knee is very likely to feel better but whether or not it actually solved/corrected the problem, that we do not know...

dave.macluskie

299 posts since
Nov 1, 2007

5. Sep 4, 2007 12:41 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

My ITB issues actually disappeared for the most part when I went from pure running to tri-training.

That said, I did have knee issues when I used a bike that didn't fit properly. Once that got resolved, all was good on the bike and the run.

Michael Teixeira

1 posts since
Sep 4, 2007

6. Sep 4, 2007 12:55 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

I'm a long time runner who started cycling quite a bit three or four years ago. I find that I'm quite a bit more likely to hurt myself on the bike than running, in particular my knees.

My advice would be to make sure your bike fits properly. A second thing would be to try to keep your cadence up to about 90 rpms or so. For me, I think I'm more at risk of injury if I'm pushing a bigger gear at lower cadence.

I find I have better luck if I make sure I keep my cadence up, don't wear myself out too badly trying to keep up with stronger riders, and don't go on a longer ride than I'm ready for.

Mike

Doug33

157 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

7. Sep 4, 2007 1:18 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Michael Teixeira:
I'm a long time runner who started cycling quite a bit three or four years ago. I find that I'm quite a bit more likely to hurt myself on the bike than running, in particular my knees.

My advice would be to make sure your bike fits properly. A second thing would be to try to keep your cadence up to about 90 rpms or so. For me, I think I'm more at risk of injury if I'm pushing a bigger gear at lower cadence.

I find I have better luck if I make sure I keep my cadence up, don't wear myself out too badly trying to keep up with stronger riders, and don't go on a longer ride than I'm ready for.

Mike<HR>

Mike brings up a good point. A higher cadence with a lower gear will cause less stress on the knee than a low cadence grinding a higher gear. They don't call it "grinding" for nothing.

------------------
"Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory."
- General George S. Patton

Dad and Boy[/URL" target="_blank">

dragonsrouges

1,068 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

8. Sep 4, 2007 3:50 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

That is accurate but it also depends on what kind of problem you have. If it's a tracking problem and your alignment is less than perfect (because you have an issue) then high reps and a low gear with bad alignment will cause grinding none-the-less. If tracking is your problem, before you go out there and bend-straighten your knee a billion times, make sure you know how your foot should be aligned, if it's done properly, higher gears with good positioning should be less harmful than 90rpm at a low gear.

Same is true for water running. If your knee isn't tracking properly because of bad bio-mech., it doesn't matter that there is no impact, the simple act of bending your knee will aggravate the issue.

What most physios won't tell you because honestly, how many physios aqua-jog...

Abb94

179 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. Sep 4, 2007 4:28 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

Wow, I was just about to post something very similar to this! I have been running for 2 years and have done 4 HMs, among other races. Never had any knee problems.

When I started going to spinning class, I developed pain on the inner part of my right knee. I think it's because I push the big gears in the class.

When I ride outside I tend to have a higher cadence and lower tension. I am hoping this will help, and I am going to try to back off a little in the class.

Does this fit with anyone else's experience (the location of the pain)?

dragonsrouges

1,068 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

10. Sep 4, 2007 6:30 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Abb94:
Wow, I was just about to post something very similar to this! I have been running for 2 years and have done 4 HMs, among other races. Never had any knee problems.

When I started going to spinning class, I developed pain on the inner part of my right knee. I think it's because I push the big gears in the class.

When I ride outside I tend to have a higher cadence and lower tension. I am hoping this will help, and I am going to try to back off a little in the class.

Does this fit with anyone else's experience (the location of the pain)?<HR>

Yeah I have this problem when I use a spin bike but my bike is set up for me and most likely the spin bike isn't, no matter how much time you spend adjusting it before you use it. Besides, I'm short (my bike is specially built) so the spin bikes rarely fit me. Handlebars are WAY too high, even at their lowest.

runninlaw

989 posts since
Mar 13, 2006

11. Sep 4, 2007 6:34 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

I agree on proper bike fit. Also, if you pronate, you will pronate on the bike too. I can ride pain free on the bike if I am on a bike that has the foot straps (or I suppose the clip shoes would work too). Otherwise I position my foot on the petal wrong, pronate, and OUCH.

callalily

40 posts since
Sep 30, 2007

12. Sep 22, 2007 6:32 PM

in response to: callalily

Re: Does cycling hurt your knees?

Just to follow-up. First, I want to thank everyone for their comments. I finally decided to take my bike (new in the '80s) to get a tuneup after riding it in the summer and fall. It turns out that hubby was right! The bike seat was too low and this may have been contributing to my problem. Arrrggggggghhhhhhh!

Susan

Go to original post

Sep 4, 2007 10:39 AM

Does cycling hurt your knees?

Actions

More Like This

New Runners

Training

Competition

Age Groups

Fitness

The Lighter Side

Feedback

Related Links