Walking up and down stairs, walking, running. The knees move repetitively during all these activities, and such repetitive tasks can lead to issues with your knees. In some cases, people may even start to feel knee pain when walking up the stairs. Several issues can lead to this type of pain, and there are two in particular that are commonly treated by physical therapists.
- Muscle imbalances
Muscle imbalances are one of the most common sources of knee pain when walking up stairs. There are several reasons that this issue could lead to pain during this activity, and one of them is the effect that muscle imbalances can have on the kneecap. The kneecap is supposed to slide along a v-shaped groove at the end of the thighbone. Muscle weakness in the thigh or calf muscles can pull the kneecap out of position, and this means it could rub against the bone as the knee bends while going up stairs. In turn, the rubbing causes pain signals to be sent out from the knee.
Knee muscle imbalances can also lead to other symptoms in addition to pain. Some patients might have more difficulty bending the knee normally or other range-of-motion issues. Unbalanced knee muscles can also cause the knee to feel unstable, making it more difficult to climb stairs, walk or get up from a chair.
- Knee osteoarthritis
A second issue that can cause knee pain when walking up stairs is knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis tends to occur as the natural wear and tear of movement begins to wear out cartilage in the joints. People who do lots of repetitive knee movements could develop this type of arthritis in their knees, and this could be causing them difficulty and pain with activities like climbing stairs.
The issues with stair climbing and other knee-related activities often stem from worn-out or damaged cartilage under the kneecap. The kneecap has a pad of cartilage on its back side, and this cartilage is designed to help reduce friction as the knee bends. As this cartilage is worn down over the years, osteoarthritis can set in and lead to knee pain. Also, people with knee osteoarthritis could be at greater risk of developing knee muscle imbalances. The reason is that osteoarthritis pain in this joint can cause some patients to avoid physical activities that help keep leg muscles strong.
Find out how Panther Physical Therapy can help with knee pain from going up stairs
People in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area who have knee pain when walking up stairs can find effective physical therapy for their pain at Panther Physical Therapy. Our team offers free screenings at each of our three clinics. These screenings are intended to help pinpoint the cause of your knee pain. We can also build an individualized treatment plan to target the issue that’s causing your pain, and your treatment plan can include many beneficial therapy techniques, such as:
Don’t wait any longer to start getting our help with your knee pain. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.