Table of contents:
- What causes knee pain when climbing stairs or climbing?
- 1. Repetitive and excessive foot activity
- 2. The position of the kneecap is not parallel
- 3. Weak thigh or calf muscles
- 4. Injury
- How to deal with knee pain due to chondromalacia
Knee pain when climbing stairs or climbing inclines can have many causes, of which you are often not even aware of. Before seeing a doctor, first find out what the possible causes are so that you can also find out what treatment options may be available.
What causes knee pain when climbing stairs or climbing?
In the medical world, a condition that causes knee pain only when climbing stairs or climbing inclines is called chondromalacia. Chondromalacia occurs when the cartilage under the kneecap softens and becomes thinner over time. In fact, the cartilage is very important to prevent friction between the bones that meet at the knee (thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap / patella).
When this cartilage is damaged, the bones of the leg rub against each other, causing pain when the leg is bent and straightened, such as when going up and down stairs, going up, to kneeling and squatting and when moving from these positions. The knee joint is also prone to "crack!" when bent.
Wearing of the cartilage of the knee can be caused by:
1. Repetitive and excessive foot activity
Routine running, jumping, or any physical activity that requires the use of your knees to support your body weight can cause your knee cartilage to wear out over time. It can happen to people of any age, but it is more common in young children and athletes.
2. The position of the kneecap is not parallel
The misalignment of the kneecap makes it completely unprotected by cartilage. This clumsiness in the position of the shell is generally caused by genetic or physical defects at birth.
Even if the kneecap is not parallel, the cartilage bones are more prone to wear and thinning, risking causing the bones to rub against each other.
3. Weak thigh or calf muscles
The leg muscles help support the knee and keep all the bones that meet the knee in place. If this muscle is not strong enough, the kneecap bone can be pushed out of its proper groove. Misaligned kneecaps can make your knees hurt when climbing stairs or climbing.
Women tend to have less muscle mass around the knee than men, so they are more prone to developing chondromalacia.
4. Injury
Foot injury from a fall, motor accident, or from receiving a blunt force blow around the knee can move the kneecap out of course, eventually damaging the cartilage.
Apart from the four causative factors above, people who have flat feet, different leg lengths, or have joint problems are also prone to experiencing chondromalacia.
How to deal with knee pain due to chondromalacia
People who experience knee pain or symptoms of chondromalacia should see a doctor immediately. Early treatment can reduce pain while preventing further damage to the cartilage. Here are some of the ways you need to do this:
- Doing low impact sports. This type of exercise provides very minimal emphasis on the knee so that it does not overload the knee. Examples such as swimming and cycling.
- We recommend that you rest your feet and apply ice to reduce the pain.
- Maintain body weight with a balanced diet. The heavier the body weight, the knees will get a bigger load.
- Using pain relievers. To temporarily reduce pain in the knee, you can use drugs such as ibuprofen.
- Go to the doctor immediately to find out the cause.
- If chondromalacia occurs due to muscle imbalance, certain exercise movements are needed to balance it which will be guided by physiotherapy to bring the shell back into alignment.
