Cycling vs Patellar Tendonitis
 

I was recently diagnosed w/ bilateral patellar tendonitis of the knees. The orthopaedist said it was a result of gradual shortening of the hamstrings w/ age and demonsted simple hamstring stretching/strengthening exercises. I have been cycling regularly x 4 yrs, riding x 1 hr 3-4X's/wk. I would have thought that cycling would have afforded me some protection against this condition?

Go to a gym and use their leg curl machine. For the first 3 or 4 weeks don't do any exercises there that work the quads. Build up the hanstrings first. After a month if they have a hyperextension station, that is a good exercise for cyclists that also works the hamstrings some.Some gyms sell day passes for $10 give or take. That is what I usually do. Once or twice a week will do.

If you have much of a tummy, prone leg curl machines will tend to work your butt instead of your hamstrings. If that is all they have you may need to put a pad or pillow under your hips.

I found I got better a lot faster using the gym than I did with standard physical therapy exercises. I am not knocking them, I still do some of them at home when I get stiff.

Cycling uses a repeatative action with a specific range of motion. That can lead to lack of flexibility in a number of areas, and cyclists are notorious for having tight hamstrings.