Do you have pain while climbing stairs?

If you have pain in your knees when going up and down stairs, this could be the first sign that you are developing Osteoarthritis (OA), according to researchers at Leeds University. This new study, published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, aimed to investigate which patient reported activities are first associated with knee pain, in order to improve early detection of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis affects nearly 21 million people in the United States and is caused by wear and tear of our joints, resulting in the break-down of cartilage. This cartilage provides a cushion between bones and gives a slick surface allowing bones to glide over one another with reduced friction. When this cartilage breaks down, bone on bone contact proceeds… leading to pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion.

To conduct this study, researchers analyzed data from 4,700 individuals who filled out an annual questionnaire every year for seven years regarding which functional activities resulted in pain. The results of the study indicated that stair climbing was the first functional task to be problematic for people with osteoarthritis of the knees.

In the future, this information may be useful for practitioners in the early detection of those with osteoarthritis. If individuals with knee OA are identified sooner, lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise could be suggested to reduce the progression of the condition.

If you or a loved one are experiencing pain while using stairs, it could mean that you are developing osteoarthritis. The good news is…Physical Solutions can help. Our physical therapists are board certified clinical specialists in orthopedics and are highly trained at diagnosing and providing interventions for osteoarthritis.

For more information on knee osteoarthritis and programs offered by Physical Solutions to treat this condition, contact us by phone (516-746-6350).