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Do I have ITBS and how to adjust seat?

Old 10-17-03, 07:44 PM
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Do I have ITBS and how to adjust seat?

When riding, the pain runs from the outside of the knee joint and down about an inch or two. After riding it goes away but if I dig my finger into the joint, I feel tenderness in the top of the lower leg bone that sticks out (fibula?). I've done some searches and it seems that most of ITBS seems to be above the knee joint. Since mine is below the joint, could it be ITBS?

Also, the pain started when I got a new bike so I suspect the seat needs to be adjusted. Does anyone know which way to adjust? up/down, fore/aft? The seat seems to be in the correct position based on what I've read about fitting so I'm not sure which direction to start tweaking.

Thanks!!
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Old 10-18-03, 06:34 PM
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I'm not an expert, since I've never had ITBS, but my understanding is that it isn't really a seat adjustment thing. I think the main treatment is easing up a bit for a while, and stretching exercises for the IT band.
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Old 10-18-03, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by roadbuzz
I've never had ITBS, but my understanding is that it isn't really a seat adjustment thing.
The strange thing is as soon as I started riding the new bike I got the knee pain but never had it before. So it's either a coincidence or something with the new bike that brought it on. I haven't rode for 3-4 weeks and have been doing the stretches and icing. I really want to get out and ride but first want to make any adjustments if they might help.
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Old 10-18-03, 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Post42K
The strange thing is as soon as I started riding the new bike I got the knee pain but never had it before. So it's either a coincidence or something with the new bike that brought it on. I haven't rode for 3-4 weeks and have been doing the stretches and icing. I really want to get out and ride but first want to make any adjustments if they might help.
Get an expert to look at your positioning on the new bike.
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Old 10-20-03, 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Post42K
When riding, the pain runs from the outside of the knee joint and down about an inch or two.
Have you read the article on knee pain in the November issue of Bicycling magazine? Great article!
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Old 10-20-03, 12:09 PM
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I have ITBS issues but it affects by hips, not my knees.

If you do a search for ITB in this "training & nutrition" forum (located near the top of the forum page) I believe you'll find some old posts talking with ITB and some suggestions people gave.

Someone did mention something about seat adjustment too. But I don't think this is going to solve your problem. You'll need rest and stretching first.
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Old 10-21-03, 09:56 AM
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If you have clipless pedals, another thing to check is your cleats. Check the rotation of the cleat on the shoe. Having your foot perpendicular to the pedal axis does not work for everyone. Even if you are using toeclips, you may want to check to see if you are giving your foot a bit of wiggle room.

I know very little about health and training (which is why I lurk in this forum a lot), but if this started after you started riding the new bike, the mechanic in me tells me that it has to do with the bike. Someone else said that you should check your position on the bike. That is important, too. If possible, try to compare how you rode on your old bike compared to your new one. A comparison will probably provide you with better information.

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Old 10-24-03, 09:43 PM
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From what I've heard, if it's an ITBS knee problem, it's painful for just part of the peddle rotation/leg extension... just as the band "jumps" across the protrusion on the outside (i.e. the side opposite your other leg) of your knee.
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Old 10-28-03, 07:28 PM
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Thanks for the responses! Still have the pain but it seems to be slowly getting better with stretches and ice. Anxiously awaiting to get back to riding!
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Old 10-30-03, 04:56 PM
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I have had the same problems and my trainer advised me to 1. Stay off the bike for two weeks. 2. Ice at least twice daily. 3. Massage the sore area on the knee very lightly. I had been battling with it for three weeks and no amount of seat or cleat adjustement could fix it. By following his instructions I was back on the bike in a week.
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Old 10-30-03, 05:08 PM
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You need to make sure of two things before you take any drastic mesurements in most cases it is your ridding position tjat causes pain. Make sure that you have the height correct (when the pedal is down you should only have a slight bend in the knee. And when the pedla is halfway up your knee should be directly over your toe in the pedal. If this is not happening go to your LBS they will be happy to help. like anything else it just maybe the simplist solution so start with the basics and go from there and I recomend that before you start treating your self go see a Doctor (not a trainer unless he is a doctor)
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Old 10-30-03, 09:44 PM
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This happened to me today actually.

My shoes are very old, like 10 years old. I bought some new ones last week, and spent a fair amount of time getting my LOOK cleats lined up as close to the old position as possible. I have trouble with my right knee (patellar tendonitis) but my left was always rock solid.

I ride today for a quick 32 miles, and immediatley notice the difference re: stifness, new shoes etc... My right knee feels great, so I know I got that one correct. My left on the other hand feels really tight along outside.

The only way I could get any relief is to rotate my heel out pretty much to the point where the cleat wants to release. Im looking down at my twisted foot and I know that something is wrong. When I get home I put on the old shoe, to make sure the Float Arc is set the same, which it is. And then I see it.... The pedal spindle, a good 12-14mm of it. I put the new shoe back on, and couldnt see but 1 mm of it.

I was so worried about my fore-aft position, and the float angle, that I never checked the lateral.


Check your cleats if you have a new pedal system on the new bike. If you have transferred your old system, measure the Q-factor of the crank, your problem may lie in the lateral plane of your foot alignment.






a good refference: https://www.cptips.com/knee.htm
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Old 11-03-03, 06:54 AM
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I have ITB tendonitis as a result of an old ACL injury and doing squats in the gym. I find if my seat is too low it can bring the tendonitis on almost instantly. Stretching with your "bad" leg crossed behind you while standing and your outstretched arm braced against a wall, really helps in stretching the area. My physio does hard massage to alleviate knots I sometimes get. My pain is above the knee.
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