Many conditions can cause knee pain when stair climbing. According to MayoClinic.com, pain in the front or anterior aspect of the knee when ascending stairs is a common symptom among knee pain sufferers. Anterior knee pain is often made worse or exacerbated by stair climbing because of the additional stress stair climbing places on injured knee tissues such as tendons, bursae or cartilage. The ability to climb stairs without anterior knee pain is an outcome marker some physicians use to gauge a patient's treatment progress.
Patellar Tendinitis
Patellar tendinitis can cause anterior knee pain when climbing stairs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, patellar tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of the patellar tendon. Patellar tendinitis is a painful and potentially debilitating condition. The patellar tendon links the patella or knee cap with the tibia or the larger of the two shin bones. The patellar tendon is an extension of the quadriceps muscle group.
A significant amount of stress is placed on the patellar tendon during activities that require repetitive sprinting and jumping movements. Repetitive overuse injuries are one of the most common causes of patellar tendinitis. Common signs and symptoms associated with patellar tendinitis include pain where the patellar tendon joins the kneecap, knee stiffness, anterior knee pain and stiffness when squatting, ascending and descending stairs and audible cracking sounds in the knee with knee motion.
Bursitis
Knee bursitis can cause anterior knee pain when ascending stairs. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa or fluid-filled sac near the knee joint. A bursa lies between muscles or tendons and bone, helping reduce friction between the two structures during movement. According to MayoClinic.com, each knee possesses 11 bursae, which are located on various aspects of the knee. Although any of these bursae may become irritated or inflamed, the bursa that overlies the knee cap and the bursa on the medial or inner side of the knee below the knee joint are most frequently affected.
There are several distinct causes of knee bursitis, including kneeling for prolonged periods, knee trauma, bacterial infection of the bursae and certain medical conditions. Common signs and symptoms associated with knee bursitis include an area of the knee that's warm to the touch or swollen, pain and tenderness when pressure is applied to the affected area and anterior knee pain when stair climbing.
Chondromalacia Patellae
Chondromalacia patellae can cause anterior knee pain when ascending stairs. According to MedlinePlus, chondromalacia patellae is the weakening and degeneration of cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. Chondromalacia patellae is more common in women than men. The most common cause of chondromalacia patellae in teenagers and young adults is believed to be overuse injuries. MedlinePlus notes that many young people have patellar tracking problems or a malposition of the kneecap that may contribute to chondromalacia patellae. In older individuals, chondromalacia patellae may be caused by osteoarthritis of the kneecap.
Common signs and symptoms associated with chondromalacia patellae include anterior knee pain made worse with stair climbing, knee tenderness and a grinding sensation when the knee is extended or straightened.
