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Back of Knee pain

SwoodowrthSwoodowrth
in General Training Discussions

 Anyone have pain behind the knee?  It's not in the knee, but the muscle behind the joint in the crook.  It's a little swollen too.  I've been doing lots of core work this week along with some squats and lunges.  I stretch it throughout the day.  Any thoughts??

Comments

  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle
    back of the knee is where the hamstrings and upper calf muscles criss cross. super easy for them to stiffen up and get irritated. Sometimes you can even get a little cyst back there from the friction (called a bakers cyst).

    easiest way to get rid of it is to get to work on those muscles. stretch, stretch, stretch and then stretch some more. at the bottom of this link is a handful that really target the area.

    http://www.athletestreatingathletes.com/patellofemoral-pain/pfsrunners-knee-treatment/

    If you have a foam roller, break that out as well or splurge and get yourself a massage to loosen up above and below the back of the knee. Ice where the swelling is. image
  • DocHoffartDocHoffart
    Likely the popliteus muscle. Usually it is also is aggravated with the proximal attachments of the gastroc. I find it is secondary to the knee being dysfunctional or from an irritated meniscus.
  • rah2774rah2774

    this just developed for me at the tail end of my ABP ride yesterday - searing pain.  sort of top of calf, behind the knee.  Tried to run (because I'm stubborn),not so easy. Did downward dog to try to stretch the calf/behind the knee area.

    Last night did some foam rolling, trigger point, work, rubbed it out with tiger balm... and ibuprofen with food... still pretty tweaked today so I opted to not do my hour run... hopefully I can do it tomorrow.

    @Leigh - I'll watch your videos again - but curious if you had any thoughts.  This really came out of nowhere.  Still trying to dial in the fit on my new bike... and this was the same leg I've been having IT band/side of knee issues (but with those I could still run effectively).  Wonder if maybe overuse?  Hopefully nothing is torn?  Could it be related to the IT issues? 

    Last RR is Sunday, then a massage Monday to get taper started off

  • zildgenzildgen
    @Becky, Just had very similar issue arise on bike. Searing pain behind left knee that would worsen with hard effort and then linger with a smoldering pain for 24-36 hours. Felt like I had hyper-extended my knee and seemed worse on the upstroke.Stretching before and after riding would help but did not eliminate the pain. Mine had little impact on running though. The cause was my left cleat had slipped a fraction of an inch toward my heel. Fitter picked it up after like 2 pedal strokes. Repositioned cleat and no more pain. Just though I would share, don't know if this is your issue but may be worth a look.
  • rah2774rah2774

    @Dewey - thanks, very good thought!  Actually, the cleat positioning is what I've been most recently working on with my LBS - we did a bike fit last week... to test the theory, I wore my old road shoes for my long interval ride the day before - no problems... wore the new tri shoes for the ABP ride... and the pain happened.  so, it's quite possible the cleat position isn't dialed in yet.   I'm going back to the shop this Fri, before my RR... I ordered new road shoes - gonna scrap the tri shoes, they don't fit me as well/give me as much support as I need... so we'll  see... until then I'll continue stretching, icing, etc... hoping I can run soon...

  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle
    definitely sounds bike fit related. image remember- hard biking will load the calves big time and EN puts in big weekends. so if things are tight and stiff (which doesn't always mean painful), they can get cooked by round 2 on Sunday. Get back in an see him with both shoes. in the mean time, sliding your cleats back and dropping your seat a hair should do the trick. stretch and ice big time!! use the link above for some stretches geared toward the back of the knee.
  • SwoodowrthSwoodowrth

     OK OK....I had hoped to go get a bike fit at goal weight but maybe I'll get it sooner than later.  I haven't felt I have a good bike fit since I purchased the bike.  

  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle
    oh oops- my reply was for Becky, but...it's a good idea for you as well, Sheryl. image
  • SwoodowrthSwoodowrth

     Thanks Leigh.  I figured it was for Becky but after reading all the posts, realized that probably many of my issues are bike fit related.....dang it. 

  • rah2774rah2774
    thanks! fingers crossed we can get this figured out... getting closer... will go back for round 2 of fit with both shoes Friday. i just wish the vuka pad extension kit would come in (not likely)... in any event. I skipped the run last night in favor of stretching and icing (the one with a belt pointing my toes in/out hits the MONEY spot - hurts so good)... feels better today after a total rest day. Tonight will either run or swim depending on how it feels.
    @Sheryl - good luck with your fit! It's just unbelievable how much difference a mm here or there can make...or how much pain it can cause. crazy.
  • rah2774rah2774
    I think I may have figured it out last night riding the drainer... when I did the fit last week the mechanic told me I was riding too forward on soft tissue and not on my sit bones... so I was trying to concentrate on sitting "properly" this past weekend... I strongly suspect that when I rode in the shop and took measurements I was just sitting like I always sit... so, when I was sitting back it elongated my stroke...and caused pain... will see him tomorrow...thinking moving the seat forward will help. I hope!!!
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