R50/53 Knee pain... is it a distance from clutch problem?
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 800
Likes: 9
From: Prescott, AZ
leg distance and knee bending is one thing - However, keep in mind your distance from the steering wheel airbag should be 10" - measured from your airbag and your breast bone - any closer and you may sustance more injury from the airbag - also, hand placement on the wheel is important... This is a hard one for me from old driving habits - just keep in mind - if you forarm is across the bag when it goes off - you will most likey break your arm or at least knock the crap out of your face/head with your arm being forced into your face - I have been a FF for 35 years and I have seen some real damage from the air bags = people sitting too close or their arm broke and broken jaw/teeth or nose from their fist/hand or arm being pushed into their face...
Last edited by harley0711; Dec 1, 2007 at 12:56 PM.
That's actually one thing I've learned from taking Drivers Education events - I'm a much more in-control driver when I'm one or two notches closer to the steering wheel than I was before, and have better car control as a result. Slightly bent knees, but I've adapted.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,790
Likes: 10
From: Kansas City
Sounds like you could have a "Baker's cyst", I have this problem in my left knee, it's especialy bad after I've ridden my bicycle over a certain number of miles. Does the pain go away when you get out and walk around? If so, that would be my guess........changing your seat position may help - may not.
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Left knee problem
This is interesting that I should find this topic. I've been nursing a bad left knee for the past week. I'm not sure what I did to it but I was wondering if it may be caused by getting in and/or out of the Mini incorrectly. I have an auto R56 so it wouldn't be an issue with using the clutch. I had a Miata when they first came out and I had something similar to my left knee then. Hhhmmm...Interesting.
And...I'm only in my mid-30s and am 5'07" on a good day. So it's not a too tall height issue either.
And...I'm only in my mid-30s and am 5'07" on a good day. So it's not a too tall height issue either.
The only way to get in/out of a Mini incorrectly is to get out of it too quickly... it really wants you to stay in and keep Motoring! (or in today's case in Pittsburgh, stay in and keep WARM! The winter package bun warmers are fabulous...)
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
From: USA
Hey all,
Just had a quick question about something that pops up every so often for me. I was just wondering if there was a correct position for the seat to be in and your leg to be in when you depress the clutch to shift gears?
What brings this up is that some times i'll experience pain in the back of my knee after driving and shifting alot. its not noticible at first, but it sometimes comes at random times. I've attributed it to my clutch use because I remember reading somewhere that you shouldn't sit too far from the clutch because your leg gets hyperextended or something. I'm 6'2" and I have my seat relatively far back enough but its not at its full extent. I occasionally switch my distance from the wheel a few half inches back or forth because I can never feel like i'm in the right position.
Should my legs be bent more or straight more? It feels like when I'm closer to the wheel, I can more easily engage the clutch but my legs feel cramped. If i move the seat a tad bit back my legs are less cramped but sometimes I wonder if I'm too far?
Help?
Just had a quick question about something that pops up every so often for me. I was just wondering if there was a correct position for the seat to be in and your leg to be in when you depress the clutch to shift gears?
What brings this up is that some times i'll experience pain in the back of my knee after driving and shifting alot. its not noticible at first, but it sometimes comes at random times. I've attributed it to my clutch use because I remember reading somewhere that you shouldn't sit too far from the clutch because your leg gets hyperextended or something. I'm 6'2" and I have my seat relatively far back enough but its not at its full extent. I occasionally switch my distance from the wheel a few half inches back or forth because I can never feel like i'm in the right position.
Should my legs be bent more or straight more? It feels like when I'm closer to the wheel, I can more easily engage the clutch but my legs feel cramped. If i move the seat a tad bit back my legs are less cramped but sometimes I wonder if I'm too far?
Help?
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Moving to Kansas...
I started getting knee pain due to the way I was sitting. I cranked the seat up two notches and scooted forward using the "wrist method" to determine the ideal distance from the wheel. Since then, I've had no more knee pain.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
Kidney, colon, etc etc. I have Crohn's Disease and anything but Tylenol (lame) or an occasional Aleve is verboten...
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