I came back from the doctor on Monday and was told I have tendinitis on top, above the knee cap (whatever that tendon is). Anyways, he gave me a cortisone shot, told me to take some Advil and rest.

Now I tried to do some research, but most said tendinitis occurs from over working it. Can it also occur from wrong saddle height / etc?

This problem has been going on for months and I have already tried ever saddle position, different shoes, pedals with float, doctor checked to see if one leg was longer than the other, etc.

So my next step is go see a bike fitter and have him see if I'm doing anything wrong.

But what else can I do? Is there is biking knee brace that could help?

EDIT: Where would I buy one of those goniometer that all these sites say to use to measure knee angle?

My biggest question is why an inflammation of the tendOn is spelled tendinitis. Casts doubt on the entire medical profession, as far as I'm concerned.
Nonetheless, I have wide experience and a recurring condition, not usually serious, but it slows me down when it strikes.
According to my doc (who's also a long-distance cyclist and a long-time friend), the only sure cure is rest. He gives himself cortisone injections (he rides 400 miles a week in summer and does a couple of centuries a month), but admits they pretty much just mask the symptoms. For my relatively minor problems, he's recommended anti-inflammatory drugs like ibu or aspirin (not Tylenol) in the max recommended dose, taken while the pain persists and for several days afterward. I'm allergic to ibu and can't take aspirin because it interacts with another medication I'm on, so he hasn't helped me much. Heat may help, gentle stretching (not to the point of pain) may help, icing may help. Physasst may help, too--he's almost a doctor (that's an old Bill Cosby line, only funny if you remember the routine).
I sort of doubt your position on the bike is a big factor, but it seems logical to avoid flexing the knee any further than you have to. When my daughter had knee problems (from soccer and hoops), her orthopod encouraged her to ride a road bike but not a mountain bike, because of the extreme effort, and to set the saddle as high as she comfortably could.

I'd make sure that you take care of the problem as i have a nagging achilles tendon issue that prevents me from riding like i used to. I felt the pain but kept riding that year and it has never been the same. For one you can try not pushing big gears and lighten your touch on the pedals by increasing your cadence. Good luck and try to find a good sports Doctor of physical therapist to check it out.

Where would I buy one of those goniometer that all these sites say to use to measure knee angle? I tried calling around today and nobody had one.

I came back from the doctor on Monday and was told I have tendinitis on top, above the knee cap (whatever that tendon is). Anyways, he gave me a cortisone shot, told me to take some Advil and rest.

Now I tried to do some research, but most said tendinitis occurs from over working it. Can it also occur from wrong saddle height / etc?

This problem has been going on for months and I have already tried ever saddle position, different shoes, pedals with float, doctor checked to see if one leg was longer than the other, etc.

So my next step is go see a bike fitter and have him see if I'm doing anything wrong.

But what else can I do? Is there is biking knee brace that could help?

EDIT: Where would I buy one of those goniometer that all these sites say to use to measure knee angle?

There are more hits on google for tendonitis than for tendinitis. In fact, MS word doesn’t recognize “tendinitis.” FWIW.

Sorry for the long reply, but we need you on the bike without pain.

A too-low saddle can place the knees in a weaker position because the leg is more bent when it takes the load. Clearly, it’s not a big change in angle, but over thousands of pedal strokes it can make a difference.

I’ve had quadriceps tendonitis (QT) off and on for years. (Left knee only). But for one occasion, it’s never been enough to keep me off the bike, though I now believe that periodic time off the bike can prevent its onset in my case.

The pain from QT is, in the case of the left knee, above and lateral to centerline. If you placed your left index finger in the middle of your left kneecap, your left middle finger would pass over the area of pain.

Last November I thought I had torn something in my knee when I felt a sudden onset of pain in the QT when descending stairs. I couldn’t bend my leg more than 10 degrees without experiencing pain. I saw my Dr who sent me to an ortho doc. Had x-rays and MRI. No tear, but I learned that I have chrondromalcia, which doesn’t bother me. The extreme QT pain was precipitated, I believe, by a recent change in cleat position on the affected side.

Ortho doc said, with irony, that he would recommend another patient with QT to ride a bike. :rolleyes: He said to ice as many times a day as possible. No shots or recommendation of NSAIDs.

I was off the bike for 10 days, then started riding on the flats of the neighborhood. I was fine up until last week (about 10 months) but, knowing the symptoms, I’ve been taking it easy and icing with alacrity.

If you know how to use the goniometer, you can measure someone else’s knee angle. You’ll want someone competent to measure yours, like an accomplished pro fitter, which would preclude the purchase of one.

But you can order the tool from here:
http://www.bikefit.com/products.php
http://www.bicyclefit.com/goni.htm

I had it in my right knee so bad I had to pedal home clipped out on the knee. Went to the doctor and he said warm before a ride and ice it after. It went away over time.

This occured with out ever doing any changes to the bike set up.

That winter I started doing weight liftng in the off season and since doing that it has not returned.