Why Do My Knees Hurt When Biking?

Cycling is supposed to be a low-impact exercise. So why do your knees hurt when biking? There are many possible causes for knee pain when you cycle, though many are treatable – or avoidable with a good fit and tune on your bike – to keep you racking up the mileage on your bike.

Knees Hurt? Check Your Bike Fit

When you were a kid, you used to just hop on your bike and ride. Longer rides require a lot more attention to fitting your bike to your body. Improper setup of seat height, seat position, clip orientation and a variety of other factors can cause your knees to hurt on your ride. A professional bike fit can help solve knee pain and other ergonomic issues.

Patellofemoral Syndrome and Biking

The huge quads you get from your century rides are great for climbing Colorado mountains on your bike, but they may be causing you pain. If you’re experiencing pain at the front of your knee, or feel as if your kneecap isn’t tracking correctly, patellofemoral syndrome may be the culprit.

Depending upon the severity of the injury, patellofemoral syndrome can be treated with therapy, braces or surgery.

Patellar Tendonitis and Biking

When the tendons that hold your kneecap in place suffer an injury or the muscles surrounding your knee become unbalanced, you may experience knee pain from patellar tendonitis. Start treatment by icing the area and avoiding the activities that irritate your knee. Speak with a doctor for treatment, which usually starts with basic exercises. Very rarely does patellar tendonitis require surgery.

Knees Hurt When Biking?

If your knees hurt when biking, there’s no reason to give up the rides. Visit Front Range Orthopedics & Spine and chat with a knee specialist today. Call us at 303.772.1600 or request a new appointment online.