Four injury types can make descending stairs a painful exercise

Have you stopped to consider how often you are climbing and going down stairs every day? You probably haven’t, and that’s not surprising. Many people don’t think much about such a common daily activity. Or at least, not until it becomes more painful to do it. 

People who are feeling pain when descending stairs may be suffering from a specific injury or have developed a gradual condition that makes this action painful. Our physical therapists evaluate and treat all manner of knee, hip, or other leg injuries. They can also help you learn preventive care so that your injury is less likely to affect you in the future. 

Descending stairs can be more painful with these four types of injuries

It can feel like a cruel trick that one minute, doctors and PTs are saying that “taking the stairs is good for your health” and the next it’s a cause of daily pain in your life. You may want to avoid exercises such as stair climbing if you have: 

1. Knee injuries — Your knee has to bend every time you go up or down stairs. An injury to this joint can make this movement a painful one. Patellofemoral syndrome is a kneecap tendon injury that can cause pain when you’re on the stairs. Knee ligament or meniscus injuries are other common knee injuries that do this.

2. Thigh muscle injuries — Your thigh muscles also do a lot of work when you’re on the stairs. Injuries to these muscles can become more painful if you aren’t careful when climbing or going down stairs. Examples of injuries that fit this profile include hamstring strains and quadriceps strains. 

4. Ankle injuries — Your ankles also move a lot when you’re walking up and down stairs. Thus, an ankle injury can make this activity more painful. It can also affect your balance and make this activity more dangerous. Ankle injuries that can do these things include sprains and tendonitis. 
5. Foot injuries — The feet provide a solid base for stair climbing. A foot injury can erode this base and make stair climbing a painful chore. Some foot injuries that may affect your stair-climbing ability include plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. 

Address injuries that make descending stairs painful with help from Crane Physical Therapy & Spine

Are you finding going down stairs more painful because of an injury? Our team can help you address your injury and the pain it’s causing. In addition, you’ll learn personalized prevention plans for keeping your lower extremities healthy and less prone to injury.

Request an appointment today or call a clinic near you for more information about our treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment to begin treating your pain with the care you deserve.