Why Do Knees Pain While Climbing Stairs?

Experiencing knee pain while going up stairs isn’t simply due to “aging” or as a result of “overuse of knees”. Typically, this indicates that your knee joint(s) is stating that a change is occurring. When tackling stairs, knees endure a greater amount of weight/force than when walking on a level surface. Therefore, if you are experiencing discomfort going up stairs frequently, then seek consultation with the best ortho doctor in Chennai, as it will allow you to identify why this is happening sooner rather than later before it restricts your ability to function normally.

Why stairs make knee pain worse

Climbing stairs requires the knee joints to bend and to work against gravity to push your body upwards, carrying almost 3-4 times your body weight for every step. If someone has weak leg muscles, worn-out cartilage, or misaligned kneecaps, the force produced on their knee joint can result in pain instead of allowing for free and smooth movement. This is often why someone can walk easily but have excruciating pain during the stair climbing process.

Common medical reasons behind stair-related knee pain

Knee pain during stair climbing can be due to one of four conditions:

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome: A general term for pain around or behind the kneecap, often due to an imbalance or irritation in the area causing pain.
• Early osteoarthritis:  gradual deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joint.
• Chondromalacia patella: Softening of the cartilage of the kneecap, resulting in a severe degree of dysfunction.
• Tendon or ligament sprains: resulting from a sudden activity having disrupted the stability of the joint or the presence of poor posture or support muscles. 

These injuries and conditions are not acquired overnight. They tend to develop gradually over a long time due to factors such as age, injury history, lifestyle (where you sit and stand) and the presence of excessive stress placed against your knee joints.

Muscle weakness: the silent contributor

The kneecap is held in place by strong muscles in the hips and thighs. Weaknesses in these muscle groups cause an imbalanced load on the knee, resulting in the knee joint doing all of the work while supporting the weight. Long periods of inactivity (&eg. Sitting), no activity (like exercise), or a sudden increase in training intensity can cause these imbalances. Pain can also come from other parts of the body that support the knee (like connective tissue) failing to provide sufficient support to the knee.

Weight, posture, and daily habits also matter

Each step taken causes stress on the knees due to increased body weight. As little as a few extra kilos can create more pressure when going upstairs. Also, poor posture, incorrect shoes and technique used when climbing also add additional stress to the knee joint. A few minor changes to one’s usual habits will greatly decrease the amount of stress placed on one’s knees.

When knee pain is noticed and suspected to be more than just temporary:

Please take note of the following and discuss with a medical professional should you experience any of these symptoms:

• Swelling that is persistent.
• A locking or catching sensation while mobilising your knee.
• Pain that wakes you from sleep.
• Problems with bearing weight on your leg.
• Pain that occurred in conjunction with an injury that occurred recently when climbing stairs.

These symptoms are indications that a professional medical assessment should be sought for diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis will help prevent further deterioration in the long term.

What you can do right now

You can ease discomfort as you progress toward treatment with some simple strategies:

Gradually strengthen your thigh and hip muscles, keep a healthy weight, avoid engaging in sudden or high impact workouts; and use railing when necessary. Cold therapy (ice), resting frequently, and using temporary support braces may help; however, these items do not replace the need for a medical evaluation.

Experiencing pain in your knees when using stairs isn’t something to dismiss lightly, as it could indicate that your body is weakening due to wearing down of cartilage, poor muscle/tendon balance, or the onset of a joint condition. Therefore, if you experience any knee problems while going up and down stairs, then getting them checked out by a professional will help you determine what is going on and develop an individualized some plan to take care of the issue in a timely manner and safeguard your overall mobility in the future. Remember to take care of your knees today, as taking care of them now will benefit you for years to come.