Click from right knee

[francovendee]

I've developed a click from my right knee when climbing a hill. It doesn't hurt when it clicks but I do get some general knee pain after a decent ride.
I'm not 21 so expect some sort of problems as I get older.
I'm wondering, does anyone else have, or have had, this and what did you do about?

[Vorpal]

Clicks are often cartilage rubbing. By itself, that is not likely to cause pain. But the rubbing (if that's what it is) will wear down the cartilage, which can lead to painful joints.

Rubbing is caused by changes in the joint & muscles, which are probably partly due to aging, but can also be due to changes in exercise patterns, lack of developing them with things other than cycling, etc.

Doing something like yoga or pilates may help. Otherwise, I would recommend seeing a physio who can identify the cause and, if needed, give you some exercises to prevent damage to the cartilage.

[Marcus Aurelius]

It’s probably just the ACL ( anterior cruciate ligament) clicking. They can do that sometimes, if they get inflamed due to unusual usage. It’s a bit like people cracking their knuckles, but it’s your knee, not your knuckles. It’s nothing to worry about, but check your riding position.

[thatsnotmyname]

It’s probably just the ACL ( anterior cruciate ligament) clicking. They can do that sometimes, if they get inflamed due to unusual usage. It’s a bit like people cracking their knuckles, but it’s your knee, not your knuckles. It’s nothing to worry about, but check your riding position.

The ACL does not routinely click - and if it does click, then it's usually as the result of previous damage or surgery. But the OP would probably be aware of that if he'd had an op. Also not sure why he would need to 'check' his riding position. Check it for what?

You don't say where the subsequent pain is in the knee, but if there is any, then it's worth investigating further. Could just be overuse, or a mild strain. Difficult to say without knowing more about your riding.

[francovendee]

I end up after a 30 mile ride with an ache in the knee. Not exactly a pain but I'm aware of it. It's the same bike I've ridden for 20+ years and I've made sure my leg is at the correct amount of flex.
I do other things like gardening and DIY but cycling is my only exercise and I try to ride every day but not 30 each time.

[ANTONISH]

I've had an intermittent pain in my left knee since 1992.
Sometimes it's a bit painful other times non existent.
I think we just get these occasional things - so long as it doesn't get progressively worse you may find it goes away over time.

[Paulatic]

My right knee has clicked for at least 15yrs. Nearly every time I sit down. It’s not unknown to happen cycling but not as noticeable.
I used to worry about it but it’s not got any worse. Probably a lot better than it was after 2 years doing Pilates.

[francovendee]

My plan at the moment is to live with it and wait and see if it gets worse. I'm not a big fan of intervention so I'm hoping it clears up itself. Fingers crossed.

[531colin]

I end up after a 30 mile ride with an ache in the knee. Not exactly a pain but I'm aware of it. …..

Hmmm, that's less than ideal.
You could google things like patello-femoral pain syndrome/Clarke's sign/chondromalacia patella and stuff like that;
.....or just do some straight leg isometric quad. exercises which strengthen the vastus medialis (V.M.) specifically.
Explanation....V.M. is the only muscle in the quads. group which pulls the patella medially. But V.M. is only contracting when the knee is virtually straight, so its not used hard when cycling (or canoeing..) So its possible the patella isn't tracking properly if the V.M. is less strong than the other muscles in the Quad. group (you could also google patella maltracking, if you want).
The straight-leg isometric quad. exercises will strengthen the V.M. and even if they don't cure your problem, they won't do any harm and they wont cost any money, just a few minutes a day.

[francovendee]

Thanks for the suggestions.
As I said I'll wait and see but in the meantime look at taking some form of exercise for the knee and see if it helps.

[thatsnotmyname]

in the meantime look at taking some form of exercise for the knee and see if it helps.

Maybe like cycling, or something?

[Marcus Aurelius]

Thanks for the suggestions.
As I said I'll wait and see but in the meantime look at taking some form of exercise for the knee and see if it helps.

As a highly trained and experienced physio, I’d say that’s a good thing to start with. Keep an eye on it, and maybe think about getting your bike fit properly assessed ( it’s worth the effort / cost in the long run). If the knee gives you any real discomfort, or issues, get a scan arranged, to see if there’s anything that needs medical attention.

[Smudgerii]

God I love it when someone professes to be a “highly trained” expert.... especially when they go on to give generic advice on their specialist subject.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I was gonna say go and see a physio therapist.
But others have got there first.
Unfortunately exercise on its own doesn't correct weaknesses with ligaments and muscles.
I am no expert but I understand that physiotherapist diagnose a weakness and then give you a specific exercise to isolate it.
If you're getting a consistent pain after 30 mile rides then I suggest you see a physio and you will probably sort it out.
If the physio can't help you simply they will refer you to someone else.

Of course it all depends on your pace, without really rereading your posts, if you're simply flat out then age and condition can quite easily induce a lasting pain.
but should disappear in a day or two.
If you're not racing or trying to keep up even hard training, then you shouldn't have a lasting pain when you stop exercising.

[francovendee]

At this stage I can live with it and want to avoid a visit physiotherapist.

Many years ago, 25 to be precise, I had a severe back issue. It came on suddenly when I bent down. I'd never felt a pain as bad and my wife called out the Doc as I couldn't move and had to lie flat on the floor. Strong pain killers helped and an Xray showed nothing wrong.

It was slowly getting better but the Doc sent me off to see the physiotherapist.
The treatment involved me moving my back in ways I wasn't used to.
That evening I developed pain in my right leg, from the hip to the knee (same knee).
I never went again fearing I'd not walk out next time! The pain stayed with me for nearly a year before it went away.

Maybe I was very unlucky but it's rather put me off.

No offence meant to any physiotherapists on this forum.