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  #1  
Old 05-14-2021, 01:17 PM
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Ozz Ozz is offline
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IT Band Syndrome or other....

I have a dr appt scheduled....but thought I would check with the brain trust here first...

So, about 2 weeks ago started feeling some pain on outside of left knee...not a sharp pain, but dull ache, swelling, reduced mobility. More bothersome than painful...but it is there

I figured it was a little tendonitis...took a few days off....felt better, rode again a couple days ago...it is back. Of course, I google "knee pain" to do some research. WebMD provides list of what increases chances of IT Band Syndrome:
  • Bowed legs
  • Knee arthritis
  • One leg that’s longer than the other
  • Rotating your foot or ankle inward when you walk or run
  • Rotating your whole leg inward when you walk or run
  • Weakness in your abs, glutes, or hip muscles

Yeah, I got 5 out of 6 (don't have knee arthritis AFAIK)

So my left leg is a mess from playing soccer for 35 years...ankle sprained so many times I have lost count (20+ easily), broken tibia & fibula so who knows if it is put back together correctly....

Anyway, anyone else gone thru this? What is best type of doctor to evaluate? I think there is a good chance this was caused by the instability in my left ankle....time to go to the "foot & ankle place" I guess!

I would think some PT is a good place to start, but probably Podiatrist, Physiatrist, or Ortho might be needed too....

This sux....weather is just getting good, and I finally have a decent fitness base.....ugh.
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  #2  
Old 05-14-2021, 01:22 PM
fmradio516 fmradio516 is offline
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Crazy! 15 minutes ago I was talking to a colleague about how my knee has been hurting for the past month on and off. I get pain after twisting my left leg, or ride my road bike. Not so much when I ride my mountain bike. Really hoping its not a torn meniscus or something..

He went on to tell me that he had issues with his IT band. Never heard of it until 15 minutes ago...
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  #3  
Old 05-14-2021, 01:29 PM
citycyclist247 citycyclist247 is offline
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I used to run and play soccer as well. Started having pain occasionally. My cousin who’s a physical trainer told me that it was likely my it band. I got a foam roller and after using it the effect was so much better!

I hope that a doc can help you figure out a solution to address the issue. I’m not sure what doctor would be ideal.
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Old 05-14-2021, 01:41 PM
truth truth is offline
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I've had outer knee pain that I alleviated by foam rolling (and rolling on a lacrosse ball) my glute med and piriformis.

If you've got a foam roller you can try rolling on the actual IT band. If it howls with pain you might have IT band syndrome or something else. If it's tolerable you probably have something other than ITBS.
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  #5  
Old 05-14-2021, 01:45 PM
BobbyJones BobbyJones is offline
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My experience:

1) Foam Roller or massage stick. Hurts so good! Make sure you start all the way at the hip and don’t neglect your Psoas and Tensor fasciae. (Look em up)

2) cross-over standing leg stretches... you’ll feel it when you’re doing it right.

3) consistency. A couple of times a day for each of the above.

When my flare ups happen, it can take months to totally eliminate the pain. I’ve been told by a PT that working through it isn’t destructive, within reason of course...and as long as there’s no “joint” pain.

Long term maintenance revolves around that consistency thing and some trail running and walking on uneven terrain.

Good luck with your recovery.
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Old 05-14-2021, 01:51 PM
FlashUNC FlashUNC is offline
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Foam roller is about to become your "friend."

I use quotes because it's agony to start.

Start with a decent sports med doc if you can. They can diagnose IT band stuff pretty quickly.

And then follow the PT religiously. It'll likely become part of your regular routine to keep it from flaring up again. I foam roll at least a couple times a week these days.
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Old 05-14-2021, 07:39 PM
schwa86 schwa86 is offline
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I’m a big fan of the roll recovery r8 that was flagged here originally. It has allowed me a bit more control/precision in working the IT stuff out. If you search you will find various threads. https://rollrecovery.com/
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  #8  
Old 05-14-2021, 07:53 PM
joevers joevers is offline
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Take some time off the bike.

Use a foam roller and do yoga (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWzR...&pbjreload=101 is my absolute favorite)

See a bike fitter.

For me, my fit was apparently terrible and I did a 400mi brevet 2 years ago that just put it over the edge. I didn't think my fit was bad, I was working in shops, riding with people, and just never noticed apparently. I guess I'm just not good at recognizing what's wrong with my fit. I couldn't ride a bike for a month my IT band was so bad. Near the end of the ride with 20 miles to go I had to lay down on the ground for nearly an hour because I couldn't do one more pedal stroke.

Saddle too high, cleats too forward, knees bowed in towards the top tube, and never stretched were the issues that lead to it, and I had to correct all of those. I started stretching, lowered my saddle nearly 30mm, moved my cleats back and shimmed them out so my knees tracked straight with my legs.

The stretch that helped relieve pain the most was standing up, turning one foot out 90* and slightly forward(so if you looked down at my feet they formed a T shape), and reaching for my toes (specifically, reaching for the toes that formed the bottom point in the T shape).
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Old 05-14-2021, 10:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joevers View Post
Take some time off the bike.

Use a foam roller and do yoga (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWzR...&pbjreload=101 is my absolute favorite)

See a bike fitter.

For me, my fit was apparently terrible and I did a 400mi brevet 2 years ago that just put it over the edge. I didn't think my fit was bad, I was working in shops, riding with people, and just never noticed apparently. I guess I'm just not good at recognizing what's wrong with my fit. I couldn't ride a bike for a month my IT band was so bad. Near the end of the ride with 20 miles to go I had to lay down on the ground for nearly an hour because I couldn't do one more pedal stroke.

Saddle too high, cleats too forward, knees bowed in towards the top tube, and never stretched were the issues that lead to it, and I had to correct all of those. I started stretching, lowered my saddle nearly 30mm, moved my cleats back and shimmed them out so my knees tracked straight with my legs.

The stretch that helped relieve pain the most was standing up, turning one foot out 90* and slightly forward(so if you looked down at my feet they formed a T shape), and reaching for my toes (specifically, reaching for the toes that formed the bottom point in the T shape).
Yeah, bike fitter might be a good idea. I've been messing with new saddles, an raised my saddle a bit, and not paying attention to putting the pieces where they are supposed to be.

It was all much easier when my body just adapted....
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Old 06-09-2021, 09:08 AM
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OK - took some time off the bike (2 weeks or so) and did the foam roller a couple times per day.....seemed to be working and was optimistic. Did a few rides last week......ugh.....it's back.

I have an appt with Erik Moen scheduled for July 1 (should be confirmed today) for evaluation and fit assessment...

Good news....the fit should be covered by my insurance!

I hope I don't have be buying a bunch of new stems, bars, seatposts or saddles!

Getting old sucks....all those old injuries come back to remind you about how invincible you were back it the day (not).
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Old 06-09-2021, 10:37 AM
truth truth is offline
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Erik Moen is fantastic!

I wonder if he'll recommend a wider stance width for you?
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Old 06-09-2021, 11:30 AM
ojingoh ojingoh is offline
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yeah third recco for Moen.

I get IT band stuff when I come back from a few months off (nov-dec-jan round here.) I attribute my IT band soreness to bad form, specifically bad hip+glute activation, e.g. pedaling squares.

I found my fix in core stabilization exercises, basically planks, woodchoppers and side bends.
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  #13  
Old 06-18-2021, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozz View Post
...
I hope I don't have be buying a bunch of new stems, bars, seatposts or saddles!....
OK - I spent some quality time with Erik yesterday....looks like I need to buy some new stems, bars, pedals and saddles!

Wider stance (moved cleats, pedals with longer spindles), lowered saddle a bit, and suggested shorter stem, and wider bars.

He also thought my Flite saddle was too narrow for me, and suggest that a 140-145mm wide saddle might provide better stability.

Pretty thorough session regarding the fit....told me to try out the changes for a bit (short rides, avoid hills) to see how it goes....

time to go shopping.....

Interesting note....found out I have 172.5mm cranks on my Seven....I thought they were 175s....I never checked. I guess any difference in how they felt was attributed to change to compact gearing.
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Last edited by Ozz; 06-18-2021 at 09:01 AM.
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Old 06-18-2021, 09:33 AM
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azrider azrider is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozz View Post
OK - I spent some quality time with Erik yesterday....looks like I need to buy some new stems, bars, pedals and saddles!

Wider stance (moved cleats, pedals with longer spindles), lowered saddle a bit, and suggested shorter stem, and wider bars.

He also thought my Flite saddle was too narrow for me, and suggest that a 140-145mm wide saddle might provide better stability.

Pretty thorough session regarding the fit....told me to try out the changes for a bit (short rides, avoid hills) to see how it goes....

time to go shopping.....

Interesting note....found out I have 172.5mm cranks on my Seven....I thought they were 175s....I never checked. I guess any difference in how they felt was attributed to change to compact gearing.
I spent the majority of my cycling life on a 148 wide saddle. Moving to a 155 just a few years back was a GAME CHANGER. Hope you experience the same.

So that purchase I agree with.......but all that other stuff???

I always, ALWAYS got IT band issues at the beginning of the season. I would get on the bike and get all excited and go way too hard too fast. IT band would inevitably FLARE UP. Then I'd incorporate the foam roller and stretching. This was my favorite:



Few weeks of incorporating that into my routine and before long it's gone.

But buying new bike stuff is always fun too so.........
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Old 06-18-2021, 09:46 AM
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Ozz Ozz is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azrider View Post
I spent the majority of my cycling life on a 148 wide saddle. Moving to a 155 just a few years back was a GAME CHANGER. Hope you experience the same.

So that purchase I agree with.......but all that other stuff???

....
But buying new bike stuff is always fun too so.........
Yeah, apparently my Flite is closer to 133mm or something...he suggested the SLR Max....it isn't too expensive so worth a shot.

Moving cleats was HUGE on how my knee felt when pedaling....I really should have paid more attention to stuff like this...

He suggested Look pedals (can't put Shimano on my Campy bikes)....are the Look Keo Blade Carbon pedals any good? Bad?

The stem and bars are not really related to knee issues....just better fit options he suggested.
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