A woman in China has been left with severe knee damage after following a popular online fitness trend that encouraged people to climb stairs on an empty stomach to lose weight and achieve slimmer legs.
The office worker, believed to be in her 30s, reportedly spent months performing high-intensity stair-climbing workouts every morning after being attracted by social media claims that the exercise was a quick, low-cost and effective way to burn fat.
According to reports from Henan, the woman would repeatedly climb and descend staircases, completing the equivalent of nearly 100 floors a day in an effort to develop the so-called “chopstick legs” beauty ideal.
While the routine initially helped her lose weight, it eventually took a devastating toll on her joints.
Doctors later diagnosed her with severe cartilage damage in her knees, with degeneration reportedly comparable to that of a person in their 60s.
The woman said she initially ignored warning signs such as swelling and persistent knee pain, believing the discomfort was a normal part of the fat-burning process.
However, her condition continued to worsen. She eventually experienced sharp pain when squatting and noticed frequent cracking sounds from her knees while walking, prompting her to seek medical treatment.
Orthopaedic specialists explained that many young women pursuing rapid weight loss and slimmer leg shapes often underestimate the long-term impact excessive exercise can have on their joints.
Doctors stressed that contrary to popular belief, walking downstairs can be even more damaging to the knees than climbing up. During descent, the knees may absorb forces equivalent to six to seven times a person’s body weight, while climbing stairs typically generates forces of three to five times body weight.
Experts said the woman’s repeated stair-climbing routine, combined with a lack of professional guidance, subjected her joints to prolonged and excessive strain.
Medical professionals also noted that many office workers spend long hours sitting, resulting in weak thigh and glute muscles. Without sufficient muscle support, the knee cartilage and meniscus are forced to absorb more impact, accelerating wear and tear.
Doctors warned that once knee cartilage is damaged, it has very limited ability to regenerate, making prevention crucial.
For people looking to lose weight without placing excessive stress on their joints, experts recommend lower-impact exercises such as swimming, elliptical training and certain strength-based workouts.
They added that healthy individuals who wish to use stair climbing as part of their fitness routine should avoid repeatedly walking down stairs and instead follow the principle of climbing up while using lifts or elevators for the descent.
The case has reignited debate online about the dangers of blindly following viral fitness trends without understanding the potential health risks.
