Can lift cause Baker's Cysts?

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hey all, sorry for the weird question.

I’ve been doing SS LP since February 1st. In the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed a lump behind my left knee. I didn’t think much of it before but it hasn’t really changed - same size, same spot, etc… From checking it out and googling, I suspect it’s a Baker’s Cyst. I’m 40 years old, squatting 210, dead lifting 225.

I don’t have any pain or any flexibility issues. It doesn’t cause me to miss lifts, no soreness, etc… From what I’ve read, it can be caused by injury or arthritis or things of that nature. I don’t seem to have any of those. I did have what I think is/was bursitis but that was in my other knee.

I typically do 3 or 4 minutes of rowing machine and then some stretching before I lift. No issues with the lump/cyst/whatever there.

I’m going to see my doc about it to be sure, but I was wondering if an otherwise healthy knee can develop a cyst like this or should I take it as a sign of a more serious injury that I just don’t know about yet? Any other advice / adjustments you’d suggest? I’m not sure of my doc’s experience with weight lifting so I wanted to check here for the unique insight :slight_smile:

2

Baker’s cysts are incredibly common but I doubt it has any relationship with your lifting and I don’t think you’re injured at all!

They sometimes resolve on their own, sometimes resolve with a steroid injection to the knee, sometimes can be drained directly, and on rare occasions require surgical excision.