Generic Help with ergonomics

So I got back to sim racing after having to stop because of severe knee pain. 2 days into trying this again, my knee is acting up again. I had stopped for 3 months and was fine even playing basketball twice weekly without problems. I have the g29 which has unrealistically hard brakes so this time around I switched out the springs and put the clutch springs on my brake to make it easier to press. I still get severe left knee pain if I play for more than 30 minutes or so. Any one with a similar problem? Im now thinking it might be my actual setup. I sit on a very low couch in front of the tv. The wheel is mounted on a simple plastic table and my pedals rest below that with my knees having a slightest bend.

 

Not an expert, but I guess the lower your seat, the more you shoud lean your pedals plate towards you. If you cant lean the pedals, sit on something higher. This should allow your ankle to do a good part of the work now done by your knee. Good luck!

 

Have you taken out that little rubber piece in the brake pedal?

 

Will try it tonight sitting on a cushion I guess and let you know ... this is how my setup looks now ... the pedal is already slightly inclined towards me but I see how my ankle isn't doing most of the work

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Yes, rubber piece is out and the brake spring is replaced w the softer clutch spring ...

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So I'm experimenting now and noticed that when pressing down on the throttle, I can do so easily with my ankle. For the brake, the radius of rotation seems to be bigger than my foot so that I can't press down with my ankle but actually have to extend my knee/ leg... is that normal? ( also the brake is closer to me than the throttle) Does anyone else have the same issue? Any fixes?

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At a guess I would say, raise the pedals or lower your seating position. Tilt pedals back to reduce the ankle rotation. This will help to push forward on the brake, instead of down. Good luck.

 

I would look for something like the rightside position. The image is overly simplified, and the angle between leg and foot in the "correct" pose, seems wrong to me. Anyways: since you are already feeling pain, I think a professional could help you much better than us in the forum (even for some simple hints on how to setup your gearing).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/26/69/19/2669190a4e3301221cf850107636c917.jpg

 

Use your right foot for brake and throttle

 

This is what I'm also thinking perhaps with a racing seat it would be a better position .

 

Unless you're in a open wheel car or rally car....

 

Or if you're playing a video game and can possibly cause further injury to yourself after already missing 3 months. Theres no guarantee that changing his play position or buying an expensive playseat is going to help his particular situation. Obviously he has a problem, luckily its not affecting his everyday life but something is definitely wrong and i would see a doctor before i would continue to do anything that could make it worse.

 

edit: Saw that my answer was pretty much the exact same as a previous suggestion.

Cant u use tape and put some piece of wood or something to get the brake pedal closer to you, so you get the same final position when pushing that as your throttle?

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I followed your advise and tried the lower seats and different pedal positions but it still hurt. Saw a sports medicine doctor yesterday who told me I have IT band syndrome and PFPS. Will need rehab and to strengther my gluteus, quads, and to stretch my IT band ... Im trying those exercises and will see how it goes. Will keep you updated in case someone else had the same issue