Why Does Knee Pain Occur When Squatting and Climbing Stairs?

Reviewed by Garrett Kneese, MD, MPH

Family Medicine

Knee pain during squatting and climbing stairs often happens because these activities put extra pressure on the front of the knee (the patellofemoral area), which can irritate the joint and soft tissues.

Explanation

When you squat or climb stairs, your knees bend a lot and the kneecap (patella) shifts and presses against the thigh bone. This pressure can stress the cartilage and soft tissues underneath the kneecap, causing pain. One type of knee pain that can develop is called patellofemoral pain syndrome. This happens when the pressure on the patellofemoral joint is higher than usual, leading to irritation and discomfort. Some reasons for this extra pressure include muscle weakness, imbalances around the knee, and even how the kneecap moves during the activity. Squatting and stair climbing are both repeated motions that can overload the joint if the muscles around the knee are not strong enough or the movements are not done with proper form. Exercises that strengthen these muscles and improve movement control might help reduce the pain by supporting the knee better and spreading out the forces during movement.

(References)

van der Heijden RA, Lankhorst NE, van Linschoten R, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, van Middelkoop M. Exercise for treating patellofemoral pain syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jan 20;1(1):CD010387. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010387.pub2. PMID: 25603546; PMCID: PMC10898323.
Pereira PM, Baptista JS, Conceição F, Duarte J, Ferraz J, Costa JT. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Risk Associated with Squats: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 28;19(15):9241. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159241. PMID: 35954598; PMCID: PMC9367913.
Sisk D, Fredericson M. Update of Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Management of Patellofemoral Pain. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2019 Dec;12(4):534-541. doi: 10.1007/s12178-019-09593-z. PMID: 31773479; PMCID: PMC6942114.
Smith BE, Selfe J, Thacker D, Hendrick P, Bateman M, Moffatt F, Rathleff MS, Smith TO, Logan P. Incidence and prevalence of patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018 Jan 11;13(1):e0190892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190892. PMID: 29324820; PMCID: PMC5764329.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Knee pain

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes

Tips to try:

Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.