Originally Posted by
Rich Gibson
I appreciate your participation. I read your first reference and found the thread helpful. I hadn't mentioned it earlier but sitting on a recliner my right foot (leg?) rotates outward perhaps 15-20 degrees compared to the left. My right knee has been the problem. I have adjusted my right SPD clip to match that and have ridden that way for over a year. My fitter (in September) noticed my right knee rotating in a circle when I pedaled and inserted two 1 degree wedges; now the knee racks up and down, although the knee is further out from the frame than my right. Sitting here flexing my legs the right VMO is clearly larger than my left. The light bulb goes on! Imbalance from riding so long with my right toes pointed out? Is it possible that moving the clip to straighten right foot (smaller Q) might address this knee issue? In the past months I've also experienced cramping of the VMO when sitting in a recliner watching television....never the left.
Lots to absorb here..and thanks again. p.s. I'm going to try those two stretching exercises shown in the video.
Rich
As the studies linked to in that thread pointed out, in most folks the VMO is too weak and a way to strengthen it is to pedal toes out. You have the opposite and more easily remediable problem - your VMO is too strong. Definitely straighten the foot. You would probably also benefit by doing squats. Even unweighted squats. Bring your thighs down to horizontal, keep your knees behind your toes, weight on your heels, toes in line with your thighs, back straight, don't lean forward much. 50 or so of those a couple times a week should help.
I have riding buddies who have knee or hip issues which cause them to pedal with one knee further from the frame than the other. Doesn't hurt them any - they do fine on extremely long rides.