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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

804.0. "Help for Pulled Muscle?" by AITG::LTSMITH (Leslie) Mon Aug 01 1988 13:35

Hi Folks,

    Two weeks ago I was out riding very hard (working off a bad meeting at
    work) and I pulled a muscle in the back of my leg behind the knee.
    After I did it it hurt to walk much on it, but that has healed well.
    Due to scheduling hassles, this morning was the first time back on the
    bike.  Well its still sensitive, and definitely not very strong.

    Any suggestions for healing it, stretches I should do, and how to
    strengthen it?  Thanks in advance...
						-Leslie

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804.1SPINMCIS2::DELORIEAMon Aug 01 1988 16:0719
    I have problems with my knees and here is what I found to be the
    BEST advice...SPIN... DO NOT push, grind, struggle in a hard gear.
    That is the worst thing you can do to your knees. Spinning is pedaling
    in a high cadence. That means instead of pedaling a harder gear
    slow, you pedal an easier gear faster. This takes alot of the stress
    off your knee.
    
    	I have to add this...
    
    	I saw a guy and his wife riding around Wachuset(sp?) Res. and
    this guy was in his big chain ring grinding up one of those big
    hills. As I went past (in the opposite direction) I told him to
    use the easier gears. He replied "I want to build my legs up".   
    Well I met up with him as I finished the loop, he was pedaling with
    one leg the other hanging like dead meat off to the side. I asked
    him if he was alright or needed money to make a phone call. He said
    that his knee was bothering him alittle (I wonder why?) and that
    he could make it home.(Ah pride) 
    
804.2healingRETORT::SCHNARECHARLIE SCHNAREMon Aug 01 1988 19:1117
    .1 reply gives some good advice. I would add that riding in easy
    gears/low gears would be your best bet for getting started. I have
    found that spinning at to high a cadance will cause a knee injury
    sometimes to get worse. The pain level you encounter should be your
    best guide. If you have any swelling after a workout ice the swelling
    immediately. Take some asperins to reduce inflamation.
    
    Steps;
    
    Ride easy low gears at first. ( you'll have to ride slower )
    
    Ride easy low gears at a higher cadance.
    
    As your strengh improves use higher gears. ( now you ride faster)
        
    As .1 suggests stay off that big ring until complete healing has
    taken place.
804.3Doncha hate it when that happens ?MENTOR::REGJust browsing; HONEST, I'm BROKE !Mon Aug 01 1988 20:428
    re .0	I think I've had the same pulled muscle.  Much of the
    advice for knee injuries applies;  low gears, but don't spin too
    much faster than you're used to or, as Charlie says, you could make
    it worse.  Too late to ice pack and heat treat it now, just take
    it easy.
    
    	Reg
    
804.4Seat heightNAC::CAMPBELLTue Aug 02 1988 12:506
    
    Check the height of your seat.  If it's too high you could be
    stretching those muscles a bit much before there warmed up!  
    Especially if you were trying to push hard!!
    
    Stew
804.5no up/down adjustment.... te heAITG::LTSMITHLeslieWed Aug 03 1988 19:1219
RE: .4
>    Check the height of your seat.  If it's too high you could be
>    stretching those muscles a bit much before there warmed up!  
>    Especially if you were trying to push hard!!

    Thanks for the reply; it made me chuckle.  You see my seat doesn't
    have an up/down adjustment, only a forward/back.  What you say?  It's a
    Linear Recumbant.  Cute huh?
    
    I don't believe the strain is from the bike type though.  When I
    pulled the muscle, I was bicycling off mucho frustration and wasn't
    thinking about how hard I was peddling.  The people I passed probably
    thought I was powered by the steam that was coming out of my ears!
    
    Thanks, I've checked the seat position; I've assured that my knee is
    not over-extended in the extended position.
					-Leslie


804.6Ice any time!GENRAL::KILGOREThe Desert RatThu Aug 18 1988 18:1910
>>	Too late to ice pack and heat treat it now, just take it easy.
    
According to my orthopedic surgeon and my podiatrist (2 different people) it 
is never too late to ice pack.  They do not believe in heat treatment at all.  
After exercise, both have recommended using ice on my knees (or any area that
may be sore) to aid in circulation and healing (if any areas were injured 
during exercise).  Since we got Biopace Rings on the front sprocket, I haven't 
had nearly the problem with my knees as I have had in the past.

Judy