Knee Pain - Injury or Out of Shape? I have been mostly lethargic for the past decade, sitting at a desk 16 hours a day. My brothers got me into mountain biking and it has been helping get me in shape. We've been doing it for about 2 months now.

Over the last month, I've noticed that after each ride, I get more and more pain around my kneecap.

There is some pain at the bottom of my kneecap, it feels like I hyper extended and pinched something, but there was no such incident that I can recall. It zapped me once while standing up doing nothing in particular after I had begin noticing it.

I also have pain around the top corners of my knee cap. It feels like muscle soreness, but I don't think there are muscles there. If Google serves me right, that's where my MCL is.

Both spots seems to just build up as I ride more and more. There wasn't any point where I had pain as though I injured either one at a particular moment, no fall, or anything like that. They just build up the more I ride.

Both are about a 2 on the 1-10 scale, but persist all day.

I don't know whether I should stop riding for a time, for risk that I did damage to something, and to let whatever it is heal. Or perhaps, on the other-hand, if riding just requires my knee to "get in shape", and this kind of pain is to be expected while my joints get used to being used again.

I've made sure my position is as right as I can. Has a few people inspect how I right, and also had a few shop keeps look at me too. Everything seems set up right. I extend my leg to where is is just bent a smidge for my saddle height. I've got the pedals under the middle of my foot.

Any insight? Is this to be expected or am I injuring myself by continuing?



More info - I'm 43 with no past injuries. They always have creaked a little more than my peers. Both knees hurt equally, although the right knee def more towards the top of the knee cap while the left is around the sides and bottom. The best I can tell with measuring tape, my legs are even length.
Is this to be expected or am I injuring myself by continuing?


You're probably injuring yourself by continuing. Muscle soreness is to be expected when you increase your exercise load, but exercise shouldn't cause joint pain. It sounds like your bike is set up reasonably, so you should probably seek out a sports physiotherapist.