Knee pain when climbing stairs

Knee pain is often noticeable when climbing stairs or walking downhill. One possible cause is overuse and subsequent wear and tear of the patellar tendon (patellar tendon syndrome). Overloading the patellar tendon, which runs from the thigh to the kneecap to the lower leg, can cause pain in the front of the knee below the kneecap.

Most jumping athletes are affected by such an injury, which is why it is also referred to as a jumper’s knee. With physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication, the irritation usually disappears over time.

Other causes of knee pain when climbing stairs

Knee pain when climbing stairs can also have other causes:

• bursitis
• Kneecap cartilage damage
• osteoarthritis in the knee

Knee pain after a fall or an accident

If knee pain occurs after a fall in everyday life or after a fall while doing sports, a doctor should always be consulted to rule out a more severe injury. Especially if the fall is accompanied by twisting of the knee, meniscus damage, or a cruciate ligament tear can quickly occur.

A cruciate ligament rupture is noticeable in addition to swelling and pain through instability of the knee joint. If, on the other hand, there is damage to the meniscus, the knee feels blocked and is very painful. In old age, injuries to the meniscus can already occur through everyday movements, such as squatting, as the tissue loses its elasticity. 

A sports injury or a traffic accident can also damage the articular cartilage. A strong impact can crush or even knock out pieces of cartilage. Minor injuries can result from long-term incorrect loading. In the long term, incorrect loading leads to more significant wear and tear, which can ultimately lead to arthrosis.

knee pain in old age

Knee pain in old age can be caused by an injury or incorrect strain, just like in younger people. However, signs of wear and tear, such as arthrosis, are often behind the symptoms.

Arthrosis causes pain when the knee is moved and loaded due to wear and tear on the cartilage in the knee joint. Nocturnal knee pain is also typical of arthrosis. The pain occurs because the thigh and lower leg bones rub against each other due to the lack of cartilage.

In addition to age-related joint wear and tear, arthrosis can also be caused by permanent overloading, previous injuries and joint inflammation such as rheumatism.