Does your knee make sounds while climbing stairs? Delhi-based ortho surgeon warns against a serious health red flag

A seemingly harmless clicking sound in the knee while climbing stairs or squatting might not feel alarming at first. But according to Dr Obaidur Rahman, an orthopedic and sports surgeon at Delhi’s Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, that faint sound could be the body’s earliest cry for help.

In a now-viral Instagram post, Dr Rahman wrote, “Does your knee make sounds while climbing stairs or squatting? It could be warning of something serious.” His post, which has sparked widespread discussion online, narrates the story of a 27-year-old corporate professional whose career-driven lifestyle gradually took a toll on her knees.

She ignored the soft “click” that appeared during her daily stair climbs — until the sound turned into a painful grind, leaving her with a condition called Chondromalacia Patellae, where the cartilage beneath the kneecap begins to wear down.

A silent epidemic among young professionals
Speaking through his post, Dr Rahman highlighted how such cases are increasingly common among young adults, especially those working long hours in sedentary jobs. “I see this every single week in young professionals who spend 8–10 hours seated and call their body’s warnings ‘normal,’” he shared in the Instagram post.

Doctors say Chondromalacia Patellae often develops when repetitive stress is placed on the knees without adequate strength training or rest. Poor posture, lack of movement, and high-impact exercises without proper conditioning can accelerate cartilage wear — something many urban professionals overlook.

‘Pain is not the first sign — sound is’
Dr Rahman’s key message is clear: the body warns before it breaks. “If your knee clicks, pops, or grinds when you squat, climb stairs, or sit too long — it’s not ‘nothing.’ It’s the first warning of something your future self will beg you to fix today,” he wrote.

The orthopedic expert emphasizes that pain is often a late-stage symptom. Instead, subtle knee noises should prompt people to take preventive measures such as regular stretching, strengthening exercises, posture correction, and avoiding prolonged sitting.

The story Dr Rahman shared ends with a sobering reminder — the once-active young woman now struggles with simple movements she once took for granted. The takeaway, according to him, is simple yet vital: don’t dismiss your body’s whispers.

As Dr Rahman concludes, “In orthopaedics, pain is not the first sign — sound is. Don’t wait till your body screams what it’s already whispering.”