Knee Pain When Walking or Climbing Stairs? Here’s What Could Be Going On
Does your knee ache when you walk, climb stairs, stand up from a chair, or move after sitting for a while?
Knee pain is extremely common and can have many different causes.
One possible cause is osteoarthritis, a condition that affects the tissues within a joint and commonly involves the knees.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis.
It can affect many different joints, but the knees, hips, hands, and spine are among the areas commonly affected.
Changes in cartilage and other tissues within the joint develop over time and can contribute to pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint.
What Does Knee Osteoarthritis Feel Like?
Symptoms often develop gradually rather than appearing overnight.
Common symptoms may include:
- Knee pain during or after movement
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling around the knee
- Reduced range of motion
- A feeling that the joint is unstable
- Difficulty performing certain everyday activities
NIAMS notes that osteoarthritis pain commonly occurs when using the affected joint, while stiffness may occur after inactivity.
That can make everyday movements increasingly noticeable.
Why Can Stairs Be Difficult?
Activities such as walking, standing from a chair, or going up and down stairs place demands on the knee joint.
If osteoarthritis is affecting the knee, these movements may become uncomfortable or more difficult.
Some people may begin changing how they move or avoiding certain activities because of the discomfort.
However, knee pain during stairs does not automatically mean osteoarthritis. Injuries and other conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Is Knee Osteoarthritis Just a Normal Part of Aging?
The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, but that does not mean persistent knee pain should simply be ignored.
Other factors can also contribute to osteoarthritis risk, including previous joint injuries, repeated stress on a joint, genetics, and certain health factors.
If knee pain is affecting your ability to perform normal activities, a healthcare professional can help determine what may be causing it.
How Is Osteoarthritis Evaluated?
There is no single test that diagnoses every case of osteoarthritis.
Evaluation may involve your medical history, a physical examination, and sometimes imaging such as X-rays or MRI.
Healthcare providers may also use blood tests or joint-fluid testing to help rule out other potential causes of joint symptoms.
When Should You Talk to a Healthcare Provider?
Consider discussing knee pain with a healthcare professional if it:
- Persists or becomes progressively worse
- Interferes with walking or everyday activities
- Is accompanied by swelling or stiffness
- Limits how well you can move your knee
Determining the cause is important because different conditions that cause knee pain may require different approaches.
Research Is Helping Us Learn More About Knee Osteoarthritis
Researchers continue to investigate osteoarthritis and potential approaches to managing its symptoms and progression.
Clinical research studies are an important part of this process.
At SCLA Management, we work with clinical research sites across the United States conducting studies across a variety of medical conditions, including osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain.
Interested in Clinical Research?
If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, you may be eligible for a clinical research study.
Explore our current research opportunities to learn more about studies that may be available near you.
Explore Current Studies
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
