By Jimy Haddad | Physiotherapist at KINETIKA Physiotherapy Dubai You’re sitting comfortably. Then you stand up… and feel that sharp, heavy, or uncomfortable sensation in your knee. Or maybe stairs have become something you mentally prepare for. And during prayer — especially when moving into sujood or rising back up — the knee suddenly feels stiff, painful, or weak. This type of knee pain is very common. But it’s not random. Let’s break down why it happens — and what you can realistically do about it. Why Does the Knee Hurt During These Movements? Movements like: Standing up from a chair Going up or down stairs Squatting or kneeling Transitioning during prayer all require deep knee bending under load. When your knee bends, the pressure between the kneecap (patella) and the thigh bone (femur) increases significantly. In fact, stair climbing can load the knee joint with 3 to 4 times your body weight. If the muscles around the hip and knee are not strong or well-coordinated, the joint absorbs more stress than it should. Over time, this leads to irritation. This condition is often related to: Patellofemoral pain syndrome Early cartilage overload Tendon irritation Muscle imbalance Reduced ankle mobility The key point: It’s usually a load management issue, not “damage.” Why Is It Worse When Going Down Stairs? Going down stairs requires something called eccentric quadriceps control. This means your thigh muscle must slowly control your body weight as you descend. If that control is weak: The kneecap experiences higher stress Pain increases The knee may feel unstable or shaky This is why many people say: “Going up is fine. Going down is worse.” Why Does Prayer Sometimes Trigger It? During kneeling and sujood: The knee bends deeply Joint compression increases Soft tissues are stretched under load If there is underlying sensitivity,...